We want to know that our existence has meaning and purpose, not just. 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. The razors edge quotes showing of 7 youre beginning to dislike me, arent you. The progress of this spiritual odyssey involves him with some of maughams most brillant characters. Ah, the razors edge i have never finished a novel with more misgiving. The 145 page book is crammed with photos, illustrations and cutting edge secrets you wont find anywhere else. A summary of parts 1 and 2 of the razors edge by w. The sharp edge of a razor is difficult to pass over. The razors edge is a novel about larry darrell in them. Full text of the razors edge, a novel internet archive. Another film version of the razors edge was made by columbiatristar studios in 1984, with bill murray as larry. Somerset maugham, was published in london and new york in 1944. Were considering expanding this synopsis into a fulllength study.
In maughams razors edge, a writer comes upon isabel, gary, elliot and their friend larry, and discovers lies and lives threaded between them. I first read this book when i was a child of thirteen. At the beginning of the book, he states that he invents nothing and that his main purpose while writing. 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. 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. First impression of this vanguard library edition not the true first.
Set in chicago, paris, and india in the 1920s and 30s, it involves characters from sharply different worlds. Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides that feature detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, quotes, and essay topics. Download the razors edge ebook pdf free therazorsedgesg. Kathaupanishad the razor s edge was published in 1944 in a very different world from that of 1994. Find all available study guides and summaries for the razors edge by w. This novel, supposedly based on the life of an acquaintance of maugham, follows the. This summary of the razors edge includes a complete plot overview spoilers included. Another film version of the razor s edge was made by columbiatristar studios in 1984, with bill murray as larry. The razors edge summary and analysis like sparknotes free. One book inspires him to visit india and on to nepal where he finds spiritual help.
Larry darrell is an incredibly finely drawn character. The novel is concerned in large part with the search for the meaning of life and with the dichotomy between materialism and spirituality. 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 is a frustrating and fascinating film from 1946.
World war, 19141918, fiction, veterans, upper class, travel. Those who look to him for a colorful, romantic story will find this slowpaced at the start. 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 razors edge summary supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides that feature detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, quotes, and essay topics. Some of the scenes are very good, especially the uncles deathbed farewell and murrays first attempts to sober up russell. Maugham is a french author known to be very curious. The razors edge william somerset maugham the razors edge is a novel by w. For in larry dornell he has drawn a character symbolic or many we shall meet in the. Kosti was a polish army officer that becomes the friend and spiritual guide to larrys adventures. Elisabeth lacombe maugham spends a lot of time with isabel, larry and gray. Set in chicago, paris, and india in the 1920s and 30s, it involves characters. Somerset maugham countryunited states languageenglish publisherdoubleday, doran publication date 1944 media typeprint pages314 isbn1400034205 oclc53054407 dewey decimal 8.
Download the razors edge ebook pdf free therazorsedgesgs. The the razors edge community note includes chapterbychapter summary and analysis, character list, theme list, historical context, author. The progress of this spiritual odyssey involves him with some of maugham s 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. This onepage guide includes a plot summary and brief analysis of the razors edge by w. The most ambitious of maugham s novels, this is also one in which maugham. May 04, 2014 the razors edge is a frustrating and fascinating film from 1946. In structure, however, it is much closer to a series of loosely collected short. One of the most challenging books somerset maughan has given us. Aug 15, 2016 the razors edge william somerset maugham 1944.
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. Gray is getting better and better with the help of larrys treatment. Larry darrell is a young american in search of the absolute. 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. 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. No, just kidding, but when i read that first sentence of the book i thought it was the foreword or a preface or something. He learned that he had nothing and wanted everything. 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. 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 this book is a classic and should be on the bookshelf of every thinking person who questions. It tells the story of larry darrell, an american pilot. Collecting the razors edge by maugham, w somerset first. This detailed literature summary also contains related titles and a free quiz on the razors edge by w.
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. The path to enlightenment is as sharp and narrow as a razors edge. Zanuck and fox spared no expense in translating the sprawling book to the silver screen. It tells the story of larry darrell, an american pilot traumatized by. This book challenges the cultural ideals of the 1940s. Kathaupanishad the razors edge was published in 1944 in a very different world from that of 1994. Celia copplestone is a uniquely spiritual person surrounded by a group of people who have no notion. At the beginning of the book, he states that he invents nothing and that his main purpose while writing is to set down his knowledge and experience. Somerset maugham, the author of the book the razors edge. However, the current kindle edition is littered with small typographical or ocrbased errors that can detract from the text, and as such id suggest getting a paper copy. The razors edge william somerset maugham read literature. The razor s edge is one of those special books that strikes a chord making it so memorable, so impressive, so fundamentally inspiring that reading it once is never enough. If there is a sparknotes, shmoop, or cliff notes guide, we will. The razor s edge was made into a movie by twentieth century fox in 1946, directed by edmund goulding, with tyrone power playing larry.
Some of the scenes are very good, especially the uncle s deathbed farewell and murray s first attempts to sober up russell. It includes four parts and is notable for a huge amount of the scientific facts and dynamism. However, in the context of the book, chapter iv, 1, maugham writes that in the spring of 1931, after not seeing her for ten years, he meets with darrells former fiancee isabel in paris. The two leave the mine and wander across belgium and into germany, furthering the theme of the travel and search for lifes answers. With bill murray, theresa russell, denholm elliott, catherine hicks. 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.
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. The progress of this spiritual odyssey involves him with some of maugham s most brillant characters his fiancee isabel, whose choice between love and wealth have lifelong repercussions, and elliot templeton, her uncle, a classic. However, in the context of the book, chapter iv, 1, maugham writes that in the spring of 1931, after not seeing her for ten years, he. Just before getting back to the riviera, on his last night in paris, he meets sophie. Just before getting back to the riviera, on his last night in paris, he meets sophie macdonald. Yet some human yearnings and questions are eternal. All of the characters are well drawn, and you get the feeling that maugham is leaving stuff out rather than putting stuff in. Maugham meets larry by chance at a play performance. In structure, however, it is much closer to a series of loosely collected short stories featuring the same cast of characters. Allex spires larry darrell returns from the battlefields of world war i to america a different person.
It was hard for me to believe that god thought much of a man who tried to wangle salvation by fulsome flattery. The novel had been a massive best seller and the public anxiously awaited the film adaptation. It was on an evening where the four friends hung out in. The reason why the book works is because of the writing. In his book the razors edge, maugham pretty much focuses on larry darrells travels in europe and india.
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 maughams novel the razors edge, though elliott templeton did some very generous things for his family members, one could hesitate to call him a christlike figure since he died. The razors edge is a classic novel that has inspired everyone from steve martin to, well, bill murray. Razor edge book of sharpening razor edge systems inc. Jan 26, 2011 larry darrell is a young american in search of the absolute. Knowing a lot about mystical religion, he spikes the interest of both larry and the reader of the book. Besides larry, the main characters in the story are isabel who loves larry but ends up marrying gray maturin, elliott templeton, isabels uncle. Its 14 chapters cover topics like how to choose a knife, sharpening theories and applications, steeling, using a hone and much. Apr 25, 2017 elisabeth lacombe maugham spends a lot of time with isabel, larry and gray. Introduction author biography plot summary characters themes style historical context. Not everyone, sadly, will feel its magic the same way i do.