The Razor's Edge (Annotated)
Enriched Edition. Historical NovelBy William Somerset Maugham
Length14h 49m
About this audiobook
The Razor's Edge is W. Somerset Maugham's searching late novel of spiritual disquiet in the aftermath of the First World War. Framed through Maugham's characteristic semi-detached narrator, the book follows Larry Darrell, an American veteran who rejects wealth, marriage, and social advancement in pursuit of metaphysical truth. Set between Chicago, Paris, the Riviera, and India, it combines the manners of social comedy with philosophical pilgrimage, placing modern Western materialism against ascetic wisdom and mystical experience. William Somerset Maugham, already celebrated for Of Human Bondage, Cakes and Ale, and numerous plays and stories, brought to this novel the cosmopolitan perspective of a physician, traveler, and acute observer of human self-deception. His years abroad, his familiarity with colonial and expatriate societies, and his enduring interest in Eastern thought all inform Larry's quest. Maugham's cool, lucid prose allows intense moral questions to emerge without rhetorical excess. This novel is recommended to readers interested in modernist-era fiction that remains accessible, elegant, and morally probing. It will especially reward those drawn to questions of vocation, renunciation, suffering, and the possibility of inner freedom.
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
GenreLiterary Classics, General Fiction
Length14 hrs 49 mins
Narrated byListen with 1,000+ voices
FormateBook with Audio
Publish dateJun 7, 2022
LanguageEnglish
Table of contents
1P. C. Wren's STORIES OF THE FOREIGN LEGION: 40+ Stories in One Volume (Annotated)
9CHAPTER FOUR
2Introduction
10CHAPTER FIVE
3Synopsis
11CHAPTER SIX
4Historical Context
12CHAPTER SEVEN
5Author Biography
13Analysis
Show all chaptersShow less
6CHAPTER ONE
14Reflection
7CHAPTER TWO
15Memorable Quotes
8CHAPTER THREE
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