The first edition of the novel was published in 1944, and was written by w. The razor s edge when i had started to read the book, i realized that the main narrator was the author himself, maugham. A classic story by a master, the razor s edge is so wellwritten that the reader glides through the story easily. The reason why the book works is because of the writing. The razors edge dave holland album, 1987 album by dave holland. And i was delighted to find that the film screenplay written by lamar trotti followed the novel closely, retaining much of the most memorable lines and pieces of dialogue. Essay about the razors edge study guide 23742 words. Guy hague some people think guy hague was the real life role model for larry darrell. Speaking of the razors edge, kuner writes as found in the source so cited below. I read this book at the right moment in my life it really struck a cord. If i was told to read the razor s edge specifically and watch the film over a decade ago then that would have saved a lot of time. Larry darrell is an incredibly finely drawn character. Somerset maugham, in full william somerset maugham born jan. We support almost all bestselling books on our website.
The novel is concerned in large part with the search for the meaning of life and with the dichotomy between materialism and spirituality. This book challenges the cultural ideals of the 1940s. He was a brilliant teller of tales, one of the most widely read authors of the twentieth century, and at one time the most. The book is well written and the characters are top notch and there is always a means to an end however the road you have to travel to get.
Somerset maugham, the razors edge, 1943 we didnt think much in the air corps of a fellow who wangled a cushy job out of his c. Nov 01, 2001 the razors edge tells the story of an american who, having prepared himself by acquiring a deep tan and donning indian garb, visits the guru shri ganesha and at his hands has an ecstatic spiritual experience, an experience of the same order as the mystics have had all over the world through all the centuries. Smashwords on the razors edge a book by paul telegdi. I could only find the razors edge as a somewhat badly worn secondhand paperback with yellowed pages. The razor s edge which was published after of human bondage and cakes and ale is about a young american who has a close encounter with death while serving as a pilot during the first world war.
All of the characters are well drawn, and you get the feeling that maugham is leaving stuff out rather than putting stuff in. There is a free, full and complete online pdf version of the razors edge book available at the link below as well as, for those who would rather not read the book but rather watch the movie or do both, a full version of the black and white 1946 movie by clicking the graphic below the link. Maugham meets larry by chance at a play performance. The most ambitious of maughams novels, this is also one in which maugham himself.
Somerset maugham, published in 1944 the novel is concerned in large part with the search for the meaning of life and with the dichotomy between materialism and spirituality. About is a free web service that delivers books in pdf format to all the users without any restrictions. Somerset maugham and published in 1944, the story is set between wwi and wwii and follows a young american. This is the biography page for razors edge publishing. Books similar to the razors edge goodreads share book.
The progress of this spiritual odyssey involves him with some of maughams 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. Stream and download audiobooks to your computer, tablet or mobile phone. Mathieu dorval we are not the same persons this year as last. Somerset maugham, the razor s edge, 1943 we didnt think much in the air corps of a fellow who wangled a cushy job out of his c. The best novel ive read since joining goodreads might be the razors edge, the 20th century bestseller by prolific british playwright and author w. Of all the novels and books of fiction i have ever read the razors edge is the one that had the most profound effect on me personally. Somerset maugham chronicled his story in a book titled.
Universally recognized as the bible of the cutting edge, this book belongs in the library of anyone who is serious about sharpening. Some rubbing to the foot of the spine and light wear to the cloth. As the novel gets close to winding down maugham quotes darrell as saying he had collected a lot of material with the intention of writing a. The oblique construction of the book is one of maughams happiest inventions. Why anyone needed this much space, he couldnt say, but the room screamed conceit. Its epigraph reads, the sharp edge of a razor is difficult to pass overthus the wise say the path to salvation is hard, taken from a verse in the kathaupanishad.
One of my favourite writers gabriel garcia marquez. Somerset maughams novel the razors edge, published in. The razors edge was maughams third attempt at writing a book with the exact same plot even down to having characters with the same name. It tells the story of larry darrell, an american pilot traumatized by his experiences in world war i, who sets off in search of some transcendent meaning in his life.
Somerset maugham, the author of the book the razors edge. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. It was the bands eleventh internationally released studio album and the twelfth to be released in australia. The razors edge vintage classics, paperback 2000 8vo. The boundaries of maughams talents are not exclusively. This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the title the razor s edge. Though his physical wounds from the war heal, his spirit is changed almost beyond recognition. The razors edge by william somerset maugham bookspdf4free. Our website is clean, virus and malwarefree so it is safe to use. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read razors edge. Apr 14, 2015 listen to razor s edge audiobook by w. The razors edge follows the spiritual and physical journey of larry darrell, a sensitive, intelligent young man who refuses to conform to the prevailing social norms of postworld war i america. So far as i know, there is only one place in maughams voluminous output where he mentions the razors edge.
Yet, somehow its dilapidated condition enhanced my reading enjoyment. Rent the razors edge 1946 starring tyrone power and gene tierney on dvd and bluray. The razor s edge quotes showing of 7 youre beginning to dislike me, arent you. The razor s edge follows the spiritual and physical journey of larry darrell, a sensitive, intelligent young man who refuses to conform to the prevailing social norms of postworld war i america. Written by guinness world record holder john juranitch, it contains all the knowledge and insights gained during his more than 40 years in the sharpening industry. Andris stalked into the white mages chamber in a cloud of irritation, ignoring the newest statue, gleaming and gaudy, decorating the far corner of the enormous room. Everyday low prices on a huge range of new releases and classic fiction. If sasha thought life would slow down after being captured, she was dead wrong.
Another film version of the razors edge was made by columbiatristar studios in 1984, with bill murray as larry. One of the most challenging books somerset maughan has given us. Celia copplestone is a uniquely spiritual person surrounded by a group of people who have no notion. It is after being wellknow, in 1944, that somerset maugham wrote the novel covered by our specialists on this blog called the razors edge. There are none of the jarring grammar or punctuation gaffes included in most of todays selfpublished books, although some of the english usage is archaic and obviously british. The razors edge author the razors edge author is a crossword puzzle clue that we have spotted 2. The razors edge tells the story of an american who, having prepared himself by acquiring a deep tan and donning indian garb, visits the guru shri ganesha and at his hands has an ecstatic spiritual experience, an experience of the same order as the mystics have had all over the world through all the centuries. In maughams unique use of first person, the narrator maugham is an entertaining host describing to his guests a series of events which he witnessed and which are indisputably. Every character in this book holds a mirror to us, whether it be isabel, elliot or. The unofficial history of the falklands war, a book by hugh bicheno. Collecting the razors edge by maugham, w somerset first.
Download the razors edge ebook pdf free therazorsedgesg. But gilbert is hardly the first writer to massmarket the ashram experience. The main characters of this fiction, classics story are elliott templeton, larry darrell. Larry darrell is a young american in search of the absolute.
Instead of marrying a rich, pretty chicago girl, he goes to paris searching for answers to questions. Well, you know when people are no good at anything else they become writers. The the razors edge community note includes chapterbychapter summary and analysis, character list, theme list, historical context, author biography and quizzes written by community members like you. Free download or read online the razors edge pdf epub book. The razors edge william somerset maugham the razors edge is a novel by w. He includes himself as a minor character, a writer who drifts in and out of the lives of the major players.
Rent the razors edge 1946 on dvd and bluray netflix. I first read this book when i was a child of thirteen. He leaves his betrothed, the beautiful and devoted isabel. Somerset maugham developed an interest in indian spirituality. My favourite part of the book which also appears in the film of the razors edge is the scene in which larry uses the healing power of hypnosis a skill he has picked up in his travels to cure his old friend gray of excruciating headaches.
The razors edge acdc album, 1990 album by acdc or the albums title track. The progress of this spiritual odyssey involves him with some of maughams most brillant characters. Download the razors edge ebook pdf free therazorsedgesgs. Having an extremely high level of magic, but not knowing how to use it, has become more than a little problematic. Soft copy of book the razors edge author william somerset maugham completely free. Apr 20, 2017 due to his success, he then published many novels that were immediately considered as masterpieces that would change the world of literature. The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 314 pages and is available in paperback format. The book is well written and the characters are top notch and there is always a means to an end however the road you have to travel to get there with the character. The razors edge is a frustrating and fascinating film from 1946. The novel had been a massive best seller and the public anxiously awaited the film adaptation. Throughout the book, he gave a general running narration and often a dialog mainly with larry darrell tyrone power, the main character. The war over, he gives up his life of material and emotional comfort to search for his real self. If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article. Somerset maugham education born in france towards the end of the 19th century, more specifically in 1874, william somerset maugham lived in paris for.
Struggling to get her power under control has everyone on their toes, waiting for something to blow up. If i was told to read the razors edge specifically and watch the film over a decade ago then that would have saved a lot of time. For in larry dornell he has drawn a character symbolic or many we shall meet in the. It was hard for me to believe that god thought much of a man who tried to wangle salvation by fulsome flattery. Those who look to him for a colorful, romantic story will find this slowpaced at the start. The razors edge was made into a movie by twentieth century fox in 1946, directed by edmund goulding, with tyrone power playing larry. The razors edge was nominated for best picture for the year 1946 but lost out to the excellent postwar drama, the best years of our lives. It is very difficult for a writer of my generation, if he is honest, to pretend indifference to the work of. Instead of marrying a rich, pretty chicago girl, he goes to paris searching for answers to questions about man, god and the. Set in chicago, paris, and india in the 1920s and 30s, it involves characters from sharply different worlds. Apr 22, 2011 buy the razors edge thinking classics by w.
Favoriting is a great way to show your support for the authors you love. The razors edge is the twelfth studio album by australian hard rock band acdc released in september 1990. Set in chicago, paris, and india in the 1920s and 30s, it involves characters. High in the mountains, he experienced enlightenment. Jan 26, 2011 larry darrell is a young american in search of the absolute. Signed limited edition, one of 750 numbered copies, this is copy 640. It is a happy chance if we, changing, continue to love a changed person. Some of the scenes are very good, especially the uncles deathbed farewell and murrays first attempts to sober up russell. It also received nominations for best art direction, best supporting actor clifton webb and best supporting actress anne baxter, for which miss baxter won. First impression of this vanguard library edition not the true first. Instead of marrying a rich, pretty chicago girl, he goes to paris searching for answers to questions about man, god and the meaning of life. The razors edge is somerset maughams masterpiece, although some would give that honor to of human bondage.
The razors edge author the razors edge author is a crossword puzzle clue that we have spotted 2 times. Zanuck and fox spared no expense in translating the sprawling book to the silver screen. Somerset maugham, first published by doubleday doran in the united states in 1944, relates the experiences of a world war i pilot, larry darrell, who chooses to embrace a countercultural lifestyle as a way of dealing with his ptsd, though the syndrome is of course not identified as such in the book. The great war changed everything and everyone, and larry darrell is no exception. Somerset maugham and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Somerset maugham and published in 1944, the story is set between wwi and wwii and follows a young. The best novel ive read since joining goodreads might be the razor s edge, the 20th century bestseller by prolific british playwright and author w.
719 14 823 127 599 260 336 485 364 1265 181 187 667 647 1435 1513 423 1349 432 683 1140 736 887 1532 1654 636 908 878 244 439 1394 498 532