A writers notebook is divided by years beginning in 1894, ending in 1944 the early years are filled with platitudes about humanity. As he traces the fortunes of edward driffield and his extraordinary wife rosie, one of the most delightful heroines of twentiethcentury literature, maughams sardonic wit and lyrical warmth expertly combine in this. Cakes and ale is a delicious satire of london literary society betwe. Discover book depositorys huge selection of w somerset maugham books online. A woman servant came into a room in which a child was sleeping and drew the curtains. Lord george, the local coal merchant, adds to the merriment and is to play. Cakes and ale, or, the skeleton in the cupboard 1930 is a novel by the british author w.
A novelist, ashenden is befriended by the ambitious, selfserving alroy kear, who has been commissioned to write an. Somerset maugham, published in 1930 the story is told by willie ashenden, a character who previously appeared in maughams shortstory collection ashenden. Cakes and ale is a piercing satire of british literary circles, and features apparently very recognisable portraits of authors thomas hardy, and. May 30, 2000 cakes and ale is both a wickedly satirical novel about contemporary literary poseurs and a skilfully crafted study of freedom. The moon and sixpence written and published in 1919, cakes and ale 1930, and the razors edge 1944, can also be regarded as some of his most important works, on which maughams reputation as a novelist stands on. Frederick bason was maughams close friend and his first bibliographer, providing a nice association between maugham and a young man who was, for some years, one of his closest acquaintances. Cakes and ale is probably the most cheerful of maughams works, considering that it comprises chiefly of the narrators recollections of a carefree summer vacation due to a strange friendship with a middleaged writer, driffield, and his sensuous, friendly wife, rosie. The halftitle is inscribed and signed by maugham, for fred this is the first issue of this novel with won for wont on p. Somerset maugham 18741965 the moon and sixpence is a 1919 short novel by william somerset maugham based on the life of the painter paul gauguin. One of my favourite writers, gabriel garcia marquez cakes and ale is a delightfully tart, meandering meditation on what it means to be an author, and its comments on the fickleness of literary celebrity are prescient and amusing. Cakes ale, first edition abebooks shop for books, art.
Somerset maugham and artist graham sutherland, signed on the limitation page. Somerset maugham is the bestselling author of such classic novele as of human bondage, the razors edge and the moon and. I do ship internationally and encourage buyers to use the ebay global shipping program. Maugham exposes the misguided social snobbery levelled at the character. If the book is under in your country, do not download or redistribute this file. This is particularly true of maughams satire on the english literary scene, cakes and ale which is a charming story of youth and illusions. Definition of cakes and ale in the idioms dictionary. He was educated at kings school, canterbury, and at heidelberg university. If you love william somerset, join us on facebook and well keep you updated on maugham s progress. Maugham exposes the misguided social snobbery levelled at the character rosie driffield, whose frankness, honesty and sexual freedom make her a target of conservative propriety.
Thomass hospital with a view to practice in medicine, but the success of his first novel, liza of lambeth 1897, won him over to letters. Somerset maugham, was an english playwright, novelist, and short story writer. If you have tid bits about william somerset maughams life that would be useful in writing the biography, email us. Maugham 18941965 was safely settled in the south of france when the storm broke over this book.
Of human bondage, the moon and sixpence, cakes and ale. The secret lives of somerset maugham by selina hastings. Somerset maugham s cakes and ale with extended analysis, commentary, and discussion. Somerset maugham was born in 1874 and lived in paris until he was ten. As we learn from selina hastings in her excellent biography, the secret lives of somerset maugham, cakes and ale was written in 1930 in maugham s sumptuous home, the villa mauresque on cap ferrat, at the time in his life when he was happiest and most content. Better world books ltd dunfermline, united kingdom. Writer william somerset maugham was born in paris on january 25, 1874. Somerset maugham this study guide consists of approximately 62 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of cakes and ale. Wise, witty, deeply satisfying, cakes and ale is maugham at his best.
Somerset maugham s cakes and ale is not the powerhouse novel that was of human bondage or the magician or the razors edge and i feel quite sure that quite a few readers might agree with me and, to a large extent, it is not but it has a character, rosie driffield, who is so unique, so seductive, enchanting, and mysterious that she carries this book to the. Buy cakes and ale by william somerset maugham from amazons fiction books store. No 44 of human bondage by w somerset maugham 1915 somerset maughams semiautobiographical novel shows the authors savage honesty and gift for storytelling at their. If you have tid bits about william somerset maugham s life that would be useful in writing the biography, email us. He died before he could assign them to the flames as he had done previously with personal papers. For literary reasons it starts with a vicious portrait of. If you love william somerset, join us on facebook and well keep you updated on maughams progress. Cakes and ale by william somerset maugham paperback. Somerset maugham william somerset maugham and other ebooks from all genres of literature, both fiction and nonfiction, historical documents and sheet music, all of which are available on a subscription basis. Somerset maugham 1874 1965 was a british playwright, novelist and short story writer. Born in the british embassy in paris, where his father worked, maugham was an orphan by the age of ten. Mar 04, 2010 cakes and ale is both a wickedly satirical novel about contemporary literary poseurs and a skilfully crafted study of freedom. Ale is the eighth studio album by italian singer alexia released in 2008. It is mostly family friendly, no bad words, violence but some may object to the presence of sex.
A prolific writer, maugham produced novels, short stories, plays, and an autobiographical novel, of human bondage. She glanced mechanically at the house opposite, a stucco house with a portico, and went to the childs bed. Somerset maughams cakes and ale with extended analysis, commentary, and discussion. Maugham exposes the misguided social snobbery levelled at the character rosie driffield, whose frankness, honesty, and sexual freedom make her a target of conservative propriety. A novelist, ashenden is befriended by the ambitious, selfserving alroy kear, who has been commissioned to write an official biography of the. Maugham was not known as a bombthrower, but cakes and ale in 1930 changed that. Her character is treated favourably by the books narrator, ashenden, who. Cakes and ale or the skeleton in the cupboard by maugham. He trained as a doctor in london, where he started writing his first novels. Maugham sees clearly that books are famous because of who tells you to like them, and that authors are good because they are said to be.
Maugham was a great shortstory writer, but by now his stories have been collected and reassembled in so many different volumes that its very difficult to suggest a particular title. Review of cakes and ale by somerset maugham a writers. In cakes and ale maugham makes only the slightest of attempts at disguising its autobiographical nature. William maugham biography facts, childhood, family life. The moon and sixpence by william somerset maugham paperback. The clouds hung heavily, and there was a rawness in the air that suggested snow. Maughams notebooks is a deliberate offering to the public. Interior clean and tight with only slight yellowing. Everyday low prices on a huge range of new releases and classic fiction. The story is told in episodic form by the firstperson narrator as a series of glimpses into the mind and soul of the central character, charles strickland, a middle aged english stock broker who abandons his wife and. First american edition, 1930, doubleday and company. Cakes and ale is both a wickedly satirical novel about contemporary literary poseurs and a skilfully crafted study of freedom.
Somerset maugham and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Her character is treated favourably by the books narrator, ashenden, who understands that she was a muse to. Of human bondage by somerset maugham free at loyal books. Somerset maugham cakes and ale is several things all of them well written. Cakes and ale by maugham, w somerset used books and rare. The story is told by willie ashenden, a character who previously appeared in maughams shortstory collection ashenden. Liza of lambeth by maugham, somerset and a great selection of related books. As he traces the fortunes of edward driffield and his extraordinary wife rosie, one of the most delightful heroines of twentiethcentury literature, maugham s sardonic wit and lyrical warmth expertly combine in this. Somerset maughams most popular book is of human bondage. Cakes and ale is a delicious satire of london literary society between the wars. Blackstable takes the place of whitstable as it did in of human bondage. As we learn from selina hastings in her excellent biography, the secret lives of somerset maugham, cakes and ale was written in 1930 in maughams sumptuous home, the villa mauresque on cap ferrat, at the time in his life when he was happiest and most content.
Twelfth night takes for its theme the doubleness of human character, ranging from the calculated hypocrisy of the virtuous exemplified by literary opportunist and wouldbe biographer alroy kear to the animal weaknesses of the goodhearted yet unreformable rosie, former barmaid. William somerset maugham books, biography, quotes read. Cakes and ales can be read at several levels, from the surface level satire of the english literati to a bildungsroman, or coming of age book. Somerset maughams cakes and ale dost thou think because thou art virtuous there shall be no more cakes and ale. Sep 12, 2009 the secret lives of somerset maugham by selina hastings. A novelist, ashenden is befriended by the ambitious, selfserving alroy kear, who has been commissioned to. Twelfth night takes for its theme the doubleness of human character, ranging from the calculated hypocrisy of the virtuous exemplified by literary opportunist and wouldbe biographer alroy kear to the animal weaknesses of the goodhearted yet. Somerset maugham has 655 books on goodreads with 339481 ratings. Maughams 1930 novel cakes and ale is a thinly veiled portrait of thomas hardy, whose wild inclinations in youth were later tamed into the staid respectability expected of a great novelist by.
The magnum opus and greatest achievement of maugham s career. Cakes and ale is both a wickedly satirical novel about contemporary literary poseurs and a skilfully crafted study of. The author poured his own life into the novel helping to raise the. The listed shipping costs are for deliveries made to the lower 48 usa states. He was among the most popular writers of his era and reputedly the highestpaid author during the 1930s. If were missing any william somerset maugham books or quotes, do email us. Cakes and ale is a piercing satire of british literary circles, and features apparently very recognisable portraits of authors thomas hardy, and maugham s erstwhile friend horace walpole.
Were not finished writing the william somerset maugham biography yet. His reputation as a novelist rests primarily on four books. Somerset maugham s cakes and ale dost thou think because thou art virtuous there shall be no more cakes and ale. Contentment and a zest for life wafts off the pages like expensive french pefume. Cakes and ale or the skeleton in the cupboard by maugham, w.
Somerset maugham, published in 1930 the story is told by willie ashenden, a character who previously appeared in maugham s shortstory collection ashenden. If sending to another location, i will need to recalculate the total shipping costs. W somerset maugham, signed abebooks shop for books. This was published to commemorate the 80th birthday of maugham. Both maughams parents died before he was 10, and he was.