The Razor's Edge (Vintage classics)
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"The modern writer who has influenced me the most." - George Orwell@lt;br@gt;@lt;br@gt;"One of my favourite writers." - Gabriel Garcia Marquez@lt;br@gt;@lt;br@gt;"A writer of great dedication." - Graham Greene
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Larry Darrell is a young American in search of the absolute. The progress of this spiritual odyssey involves him with some of Maugham's most brillant characters - his fiancee Isabel, whose choice between love and wealth have lifelong repercussions, and Elliot Templeton, her uncle, a classic expatriate American snob. The most ambitious of Maugham's novels, this is also one in which Maugham himself plays a considerable part as he wanders in and out of the story, to observe his characters struggling with their fates.
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38 of 41 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Have you ever opened a book and hadn't closed it until you've read it cover to cover ? This is one of those rare books for several reasons. First of all, here Maugham doesn't try to obscure himself under a fictional or an anonymous narrator as in previous Novels. ( You never quite know who he is in "The Moon.." or "The Painted ..."; and in "Cakes and Ale" the narrator is a fictional character). This adds realism to the plot and makes Maughams thoughts seem more personal and therefore more genuine. The story of the young American in search of the truth is fascinating, not only because his romantic journies are accompanied by beautiful scenery, but also because his character seems to represent what people want to do with their lives in stead of living by the conventions of our society while regreting the choices they made in their youth. The main character dares to persue his dream which is basically finding an answer to the question "Why is the world so beautiful and yet so cruel?". A question that is very appealing to a person with his good-natured soul. He looks for the answer all over the world leaving prospects of wealth and stability behind. Therefore I highly recommend that you read this novel, in which the main character invites you on an unforgettable journey that may open your eyes and answer not just one, but quite a few questions. So enjoy and don't forget that Maugham is great at telling stories that are relevant even today.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Mass Market Paperback
I read a review of a Somerset Maugham biography recently and realized I had never read any of his novels which seem to have slipped into semi-obscurity during the first decade of the 21st century, surprising as a century ago he was among the world's most popular novelists. A RAZOR'S EDGE is one of his later novels, written in l944 about the l920's, just before and after the Great Depression. It is made up a series of contrasts between the rich jet set (except that would have been an anachronism in the l920's) and a young man, Larry, who has seen one of his young friends killed during World War I.
He was raised in Chicago among a moneyed set and could have married and continued on in that life style. His traumatic experience in the war, though, makes him seek more in life in than just a material existence, and he eventually turns to eastern religion with its sense of detachment from the ordinary concerns of life, especially work. Isabel, his one-time fiancee expresses the common view that "it is a man's business to work and if he cannot work, he might as well be dead . . . he's a drug on the market." But Larry has no desire to work; he has a small independent income and it allows him to "loaf" and explore the larger issues of the purpose of human existence which he finally comes to realize can only be found "in the life of the spirit."
A 21st century reader, I suspect, will find a bit annoying the way the story is told, a detached first person narrator approach where the writer seems to be friends with everyone. He admits he is recreating the story in bits and pieces, using a fiction-writer's license to imagine details that would not be available in a strictly journalistic report. I think a modern reader would like more involvement instead of this artistic distancing. He seems to float above this conflict,even saying on the last page that he has perhaps left the reader in the air, in the sense that he never seems to take sides. But that may be Maugham's point - the reader has to decide for himself which approach to life is best,
He was raised in Chicago among a moneyed set and could have married and continued on in that life style. His traumatic experience in the war, though, makes him seek more in life in than just a material existence, and he eventually turns to eastern religion with its sense of detachment from the ordinary concerns of life, especially work. Isabel, his one-time fiancee expresses the common view that "it is a man's business to work and if he cannot work, he might as well be dead . . . he's a drug on the market." But Larry has no desire to work; he has a small independent income and it allows him to "loaf" and explore the larger issues of the purpose of human existence which he finally comes to realize can only be found "in the life of the spirit."
A 21st century reader, I suspect, will find a bit annoying the way the story is told, a detached first person narrator approach where the writer seems to be friends with everyone. He admits he is recreating the story in bits and pieces, using a fiction-writer's license to imagine details that would not be available in a strictly journalistic report. I think a modern reader would like more involvement instead of this artistic distancing. He seems to float above this conflict,even saying on the last page that he has perhaps left the reader in the air, in the sense that he never seems to take sides. But that may be Maugham's point - the reader has to decide for himself which approach to life is best,
34 of 39 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The Razor's Edge is a very unusual book, and won't be to everyone's taste. However, the rewards it offers to he diligent, truth-seeking reader are tremendous. Just to address a few issues that might put you off:
1) It is to do with mysticism, but I promise not in a bad way. Really you have to read the book to understand the treatment of mysticism, but it's not a load of new-age babble, honestly.
2) If you've seen the film (starring Bill Murray of all people) don't be put off. The book is very different and much, much better.
3) The narrative style is highly unusual with Maugham himself the narrator and main character and Larry Darrell, the character the book is all about, appearing only at intervals. The book purports to be a true story which Maugham relates as a novel only because he foesn't know how else to do it. If this all sounds very postmodern don't be worried. It's always clear what's happening and the device works extremely well, offering us just glimpses of larry's quest, but therefore making it all the more believable, and contrasting it powerfully with the world Maugham inhabits.
That's about all I can say. The stranghts of this book are so unique that they really defy description. It's unlike anything else I've ever read. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
A deeply rewarding read
This is not a book for you unless you have even some small inkling that the life of bricks and mortar, of work, ambition, failure and success and all the daily strife of life which... Read more
Published 17 days ago by T. Vitali
Maugham at 70 - still sharp
Published when the author was 70, The Razor's Edge is acknowledged as the last great work of Somerset Maugham's long and successful career. Read more
Published 11 months ago by Adrenalin Streams
At Maugham's edge
The Razor's Edge is an unusual Maugham novel. Having read quite of few of Maugham's better and less well-known pieces, I found that this one lacked the psychological urgency that... Read more
Published 13 months ago by reader 451
Somerset Maugham's the 'Razor's Edge"
I loved this book. I love Somerset Maugham anyway and this book does not
disappoint.
His telling of the story never loses track throughout his portayal, in... Read more
disappoint.
His telling of the story never loses track throughout his portayal, in... Read more
Published 17 months ago by Annie One
A look into another world in another time
Yet the writing is so full that we can feel part of this other world.
I came to this story by the back door. Read more
I came to this story by the back door. Read more
Published on 4 April 2010 by bernie
Thd Razors Edge by Somerset Maugham
This being a book that has been out of print for years,it was with me within a couple of days and in first class condition. I thorougly enjoyed the read
Published on 18 Dec 2009 by Mr. Gordon Harris
Dated writing
I am a great fan of Somerset maugham's collected stories but found this lost it's way throughout. I would have liked the quality of the paper and print to have been better.
Published on 4 Dec 2009 by M. Hayes
Good in depth portraits and journeys
Unfortunately, I was somewhat distracted from the unique aspects of the book by the film version starring Bill Murray in one of his few (if at all) serious roles. Read more
Published on 1 Dec 2009 by Frank Bierbrauer
the meaning of life
One of the 1001 books you must read before you die, on one list, Somerset Maugham wrote this at around the age of 70, but it shows no sign of flagging vigour. Read more
Published on 12 Jun 2009 by William Jordan
excellent service
Fully satisfied. Excellent service. Ver quickly dispatched. Goods arrived in excellent condition. Will deal again.
Published on 27 Feb 2009 by Vivek K. Sarawgi
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