Length8h 42m
About this audiobook
In "Cakes and Ale," W. Somerset Maugham masterfully weaves a narrative that deftly navigates the complexities of literary pretension and societal expectations in early 20th-century England. The novel centers around the life of the fictional writer Edward Driffield, contrasting the allure of artistic genius with the often hypocritical mores of the literary scene. Maugham employs a witty and semi-autobiographical style, highlighting his characteristic blend of humor and sharp social commentary, as he critiques the elitism and restrictiveness inherent in artistic circles. The book is rich with vibrant characters, evoking a world where the enthusiastic pursuit of authenticity is juxtaposed against the superficiality of public opinion and reputation. W. Somerset Maugham, a renowned figure of modern literature, drew inspiration from his diverse experiences in both London and the broader world. His life as a playwright and novelist imbued him with keen insights into the nature of storytelling and the interplay between authors and their subjects. Maugham's shrewd observation of human behavior, honed through years of travel and social engagement, manifests powerfully in "Cakes and Ale," resulting in an incisive critique of the literary establishment. This compelling work is not just a portrayal of literary life; it invites readers to reflect on authenticity versus societal validation. Maugham's blend of humor, irony, and candor makes "Cakes and Ale" an essential read for those interested in literature's power to challenge societal norms. Perfect for both casual readers and scholars alike, this novel offers rich layers of meaning that resonate with the ongoing conversation about art and authenticity.
Audiobook details
Rating★★★★ 4.0 (21.6K)
Includes Goodreads, LibraryThing, Amazon, StoryGraph
GenreHumor, General Fiction
Length8 hrs 42 mins
Narrated byListen with 1,000+ voices
FormateBook with Audio
Publish dateAug 1, 2022
LanguageEnglish
The Moon and Sixpence (Based on the Life of Paul Gauguin)W. Somerset Maugham7h 47m4.2 (39K)$10 · $0.00
Ashenden - The British Agent (Annotated)W. Somerset Maugham10h 47m4.4 (1K)$2 · $0.00
The Painted VeilW. Somerset Maugham7h 39m4.1 (78K)$1 · $0.00
Up at the VillaW. Somerset Maugham4h 33m3.9 (11.1K)$1 · $0.00
Liza of LambethW. Somerset Maugham4h 35m3.5 (3.7K)$2 · $0.00
The Summing UpW. Somerset Maugham9h 43m3.9 (2.1K)$1 · $0.00
CosmopolitansW. Somerset Maugham6h 35m3.8 (218)$2 · $0.00
Cæsar's WifeW. Somerset Maugham3h 56m3.8 (58)$2 · $0.00
The HeroW. Somerset Maugham7h 32m3.7 (478)$2 · $0.00
The Hour Before the DawnW. Somerset Maugham8h 7m3.7 (353)$2 · $0.00
The ExplorerW. Somerset Maugham7h 52m3.4 (698)$2 · $0.00
Jack Straw: A Farce in Three ActsW. Somerset Maugham3h 42m3.3 (29)$1 · $0.00
The Merry-go-roundW. Somerset Maugham2h 34m3.9 (817)$2 · $0.00
The Razor's EdgeW. Somerset Maugham14h 30m4.2 (62.1K)$2 · $0.00
Ashenden: or, The British AgentW. Somerset Maugham10h 32m3.9 (6.9K)$1 · $0.00
Of Human BondageW. Somerset Maugham26h 58m4.2 (193.6K)$1 · $0.00
The Hour Before the DawnW. Somerset Maugham9h 28m3.6 (173)$1 · $0.00
The MagicianW. Somerset Maugham9h 30m3.7 (7.4K)$1 · $0.00
Liza of LambethW. Somerset Maugham2h 23m3.6 (3.4K)$1 · $0.00
The Land of The Blessed Virgin; Sketches and Impressions in AndalusiaW. Somerset Maugham6h 34m3.4 (92)$2 · $0.00
Lost In TranslationAudrey Davis9h 15m4.4 (235)Free
This Is Going to HurtAdam Kay5h 47m4.4 (444.7K)$24 · $0.00
You Will Get Through This NightDaniel Howell6h 56m4.4 (11.8K)$24 · $0.00
Northanger Abbey (Annotated)Jane Austen10h 7m4.5 (1.6K)$2 · $0.00
My Dear HamiltonStephanie Dray, Laura Kamoie23h 7m4.4 (63.6K)$46 · $0.00
THE SCREWTAPE LETTERS & SCREWTAPE PROPOSES A TOAST (Annotated)C. S. Lewis5h 6m4.4 (471K)$2 · $0.00
BufferingHannah Hart5h 55m4.4 (12.4K)$24 · $0.00
The Office BFFsJenna Fischer, Angela Kinsey8h 26m4.3 (45.4K)$26 · $0.00
The Collected Stories of Dorothy ParkerDorothy Parker8h 36m4.3 (13.6K)$1 · $0.00
LambChristopher Moore15h 22m4.3 (211.3K)$33 · $0.00
#IMomSoHardKristin Hensley, Jen Smedley7h 19m4.3 (7.3K)$24 · $0.00
Mixed PlateJo Koy8h 18m4.3 (7.1K)$26 · $0.00
Over the TopJonathan Van Ness5h 50m4.3 (87.3K)$24 · $0.00
It Never EndsTom Scharpling8h 53m4.4 (2.3K)$20 · $0.00
The Importance of Being EarnestOscar Wilde2h 31m4.3 (475.9K)$1.20 · $0.00
More Tales of the CityArmistead Maupin8h 23m4.3 (22.6K)$26 · $0.00
Joyful Recollections of TraumaPaul Scheer6h 38m4.3 (8.2K)$7 · $0.00
More Than a WomanCaitlin Moran9h 31m4.3 (16.8K)$29 · $0.00
FamesickLena Dunham11h 46m4.3 (49.7K)$29 · $0.00
Scandalous WomenGill Paul10h 46m4.4 (1.5K)$29 · $0.00
WhistlerAnn Patchett10h 45m4.6 (4.6K)$29 · $0.00
Demon CopperheadBarbara Kingsolver21h 3m4.5 (949.4K)$46 · $0.00
To Kill a MockingbirdHarper Lee12h 18m4.5 (7.4M)$29 · $0.00
Remarkably Bright CreaturesShelby Van Pelt11h 17m4.4 (1.7M)$29 · $0.00
Cast in BloodMichelle Sagara16h 35m4.6 (607)$33 · $0.00
The Captain Blood Trilogy (Annotated)Rafael Sabatini29h 20m4.6 (1K)$3 · $0.00
Ship of the Line (Annotated)Cecil Louis Troughton Smith11h 13m4.6 (1K)$2 · $0.00
The George Orwell CollectionGeorge Orwell24h 46m4.5 (14.4K)$12 · $0.00
Time RegainedMarcel Proust15h 38m4.5 (9.2K)$2 · $0.00
Driving ForceElle James4h 58m4.6 (407)$20 · $0.00
When God Calls the HeartBrian Bird, Michelle Cox3h 24m4.6 (439)$10 · $0.00
Five Little IndiansMichelle Good10h 34m4.5 (64.5K)$29 · $0.00
Lolth's WarriorR. A. Salvatore13h 20m4.6 (2.4K)$33 · $0.00
The Things We Cannot SayKelly Rimmer13h 48m4.5 (359.1K)$33 · $0.00
The Love Songs of W.E.B. Du BoisHonoree Fanonne Jeffers29h 49m4.5 (58K)$8 · $0.00
Going PostalTerry Pratchett11h 23m4.5 (189.9K)$29 · $0.00
Glen AffricKarine Giebel22h 51m4.5 (3.2K)$46 · $0.00
The Book Of NegroesLawrence Hill15h 45m4.5 (107.3K)$33 · $0.00
Anne of Green GablesL. M. Montgomery11h 1m4.5 (1.2M)$2.30 · $0.00
Lieutenant Hornblower (Annotated)C. S. Forester11h 41m4.5 (2.9K)$2 · $0.00
You may also like
The Scarlet LetterNathaniel Hawthorne9h 14m3.7 (1M)$2.30
Disturber of the Peace, Second EditionWilliam Manchester14h 19m4.1 (318)$25 · $0.00
Claudine at School (Annotated)Colette9h 47m3.7 (3K)$1.99 · $0.00
AN UNPLEASANT PREDICAMENTFyodor Dostoyevsky3h 56m3.7 (6.7K)$1.99 · $0.00
The Complete Essays & Satires of Mark TwainMark Twain21h 48m4.3 (256)$2 · $0.00
Golden AgeWang Xiaobo8h 44m3.9 (1.1K)$20
Table TalkWilliam Hazlitt17h 32m4.1 (1.4K)$2 · $0.00
This Is Going to HurtAdam Kay5h 47m4.4 (444.7K)$24 · $0.00
Coming up for AirGeorge Orwell8h 37m4.0 (40.9K)$2.30
The Complete Satires & Essays of Mark Twain (Annotated)Mark Twain23h 21m4.5 (1.1K)$2 · $0.00
Such, Such Were the Joys and Other EssaysGeorge Orwell12h 24m4.2 (1.6K)$23
Eminent Victorians (Annotated)Lytton Strachey11h 34m3.8 (2.7K)$2 · $0.00
Autobiography of Mark Twain, Vol. 1Mark Twain24h 44m4.0 (10.4K)$30
The Complete Essays and Satires of Mark TwainMark Twain21h 47m4.4 (1.4K)$1 · $0.00
The Joke’s OverRalph Steadman11h 58m4.0 (4K)$23
Autobiography of Mark Twain, Vol. 3Mark Twain24h 54m4.5 (533)$30
All About “All About Eve”Sam Staggs13h 35m4.1 (1.1K)$23
The Purpose of the PastGordon S. Wood10h 47m4.0 (648)$21
So FetchJennifer Keishin Armstrong8h 6m3.6 (1.5K)$26 · $0.00
Norse Tales and SketchesAlexander Lange Kielland2h 46m3.8 (44)$2 · $0.00