The Razor's Edge (Annotated)
Enriched Edition. A Postwar Spiritual Quest Through Paris Society, Indian Mysticism, and the Search for MeaningBy W. Somerset Maugham
Length14h 52m
About this audiobook
The Razor's Edge is Maugham's most searching meditation on spiritual hunger in a world dislocated by war, wealth, and social performance. Framed through the author's characteristic persona as an observant narrator, the novel follows Larry Darrell, a young American veteran who rejects conventional success to pursue metaphysical truth. Set between Chicago, Paris, and India, it blends social comedy, psychological realism, and philosophical inquiry, placing modernist disillusionment within a lucid, classical prose style. W. Somerset Maugham, already renowned as a dramatist, short-story writer, and novelist, brought to the book a cosmopolitan life of travel, medical training, and acute observation of human compromise. His experiences in wartime intelligence and expatriate society sharpened his skepticism toward polite civilization, while his journeys in Asia informed the novel's engagement with Eastern spirituality. Maugham's detachment is not coldness but a disciplined method for examining desire, suffering, and self-deception. This is an essential novel for readers interested in the moral aftermath of the First World War, the clash between material ambition and inner liberation, and fiction that asks what a life is for. Elegant, ironic, and unexpectedly profound, The Razor's Edge rewards both literary and philosophical attention.
This enriched edition has been carefully crafted to add value to your reading experience.
- A succinct Introduction situates the work's timeless appeal and themes.
- The Synopsis outlines the central plot, highlighting key developments without spoiling critical twists.
- A detailed Historical Context immerses you in the era's events and influences that shaped the writing.
- An Author Biography reveals milestones in the author's life, illuminating the personal insights behind the text.
- A thorough Analysis dissects symbols, motifs, and character arcs to unearth underlying meanings.
- Reflection questions prompt you to engage personally with the work's messages, connecting them to modern life.
- Hand‐picked Memorable Quotes shine a spotlight on moments of literary brilliance.
- Interactive footnotes clarify unusual references, historical allusions, and archaic phrases for an effortless, more informed read.
Audiobook details
Rating★★★★ 4.3 (54K)
Includes Goodreads, LibraryThing, Amazon
GenreLiterary Classics, General Fiction
Length14 hrs 52 mins
Narrated byListen with 1,000+ voices
FormateBook with Audio
Publish dateDec 8, 2023
LanguageEnglish
Table of contents
1Introduction
26CHAPTER THREE
2Introduction
27(i)
3Synopsis
28(ii)
4Historical Context
29(iii)
5Author Biography
30(iv)
Show all chaptersShow less
6The Razor's Edge
31(v)
7CHAPTER ONE
32CHAPTER FOUR
8(i)
33(i)
9(ii)
34(ii)
10(iii)
35(iii)
11(iv)
36(iv)
12(v)
37(v)
13(vi)
38(vi)
14(vii)
39(vii)
15(viii)
40(viii)
16(ix)
41(ix)
17(x)
42CHAPTER FIVE
18CHAPTER TWO
43(i)
19(i)
44(ii)
20(ii)
45(iii)
21(iii)
46(iv)
22(iv)
47(v)
23(v)
48(vi)
24(vi)
49(vii)
25(vii)
50(viii)
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