Short Stories of William Somerset Maugham, Volume 1

By: W. Somerset Maugham

Narrated by: Charlton Griffin

Length: 3 hrs and 42 mins

Publisher's summary

William Somerset Maugham (1874-1965) was born at the height of British Imperial power. When he died, the British Empire was all but a memory. In Maugham's lifetime, as his civilization slowly disappeared, people from all walks of life - the proud, the urbane, the crude, the desperate - passed beneath the lens of his dispassionate scrutiny. They re-emerged in his short stories as some of the most unforgettable literary characters of the 20th century. No other writer possessed his keen ability of observation. It was an ability so well honed that his work makes you feel as if you have been drawn into an intimate conversation with the century's most arresting and sophisticated personality.

Included in this collection are:

• "The Outstation"
• "Appearance and Reality"
• "The Three Fat Women of Antibes"
• "Mr. Know-All"
• "French Joe"
• "Masterson"

Listen to more collections of The Short Stories of William Somerset Maugham.

©2001 Audio Connoisseur

Critic reviews

Winner, 2001 Audie Award, Classic Fiction

"A happy marriage of prose, performance, and production.... Charlton Griffin brings each character to life with a voice both subtle and compelling.... Each is a clockwork masterpiece."(AudioFile)

perfection

The excellent production qualities of this audio book are perfectly matched to a master story teller. These stories echoed in my head long after hearing.

Great Performance

You will think you are listening to a play with multiple actors.

Excellent stories, excellently read, but ???

Having read ???Of Human Bondage??? and ???Cakes and Ale,??? I already knew that I like Maugham???s writing and storytelling. I also enjoyed the Charlton Griffin productions of the Sherlock Holmes oeuvre. Unlike two of the other reviewers, I like the music and sound effects, all apparently chosen by Griffin himself. He both reads and produces these recordings. However, I am surprised and dismayed by the mispronunciations. Come on Charlton. You are a great reader, but if you take the time to choose and add music and sound effects, you should also take the time to learn how to pronounce ???antipodes.???

Incomparable genius

The best stories I have ever listened to. Most importantly, these stories are read by the most masterful narrator, Charlton Griffin, simply unbelievable voice, enunciation, timing, and rhythm. Thank you.

Jewels!

I found these "period piece" short stories an absolute delight. Imperialism, racism and class culture are rampant throughout - not "politically acceptable" in today's world but they define an earlier period.
Few authors can observe and write as well today.
The pace and quality of the narration compliments the high standard of the stories.
Most enjoyable listening.

A master of the short story

I just finished all three volumes of the Somerset Maugham short stories from Audio Connoisseur. Each was excellent, but this collection was my favorite.

"The Outstation" is the strongest story, I think, because of the way the author develops the contrast between the two dynamic main characters without turning them into caricatures. "Mr. Know-All" and "The Three Fat Women of Antibes" are laugh-out-loud funny and satirical. All of the stories reflect the author's gift for meticulous observation, and just as often, his thinly-veiled contempt for his fellow humans!

I was never under the impression that Charlton Griffin was British, so that wasn't an issue for me. I love his voice. Even if his pronunciations are sometimes eccentric, I really do enjoy him and the way he adds sound effects and music to his productions. (If you require a British narrator, try "Rain and other Stories," another good collection of Somerset Maugham stories, narrated by Steven Crossley). It's good to have a choice of styles.

A Great Writers work with a Great Narrator

Would you listen to Short Stories of William Somerset Maugham, Volume 1 again? Why?

These are ageless stories; should be required reading in high scool and college. .

What does Charlton Griffin bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

The twain are one.

A Perfect Marriage

As another reviewer said, these stories are gems, pearls; rich, sweet delights, to be savored, and listened to over and over. Writing short stories well requires different skills than novels, and Maugham has them all. It is his skill as a writer of short stories that makes the context, however politically incorrect it might seem today, unimportant to the enjoyment of the stories,

Combined with the melifluous and perfectly appropriate world-weary voice of the narrator, this production is as good as audio literature gets. I can't wait to read the later volumes.

Interesting

I enjoyed the stories from The Outstation to Appearance and Reality to French Joe and Masterson. William Somerset Maugham's stories are interesting if you like history, and want to see what life was like way back when. What I didn't like was the racism and imperialism, but that is unfortunately part of the time.

not the best stories by Maugham

not the best stories by Maugham from my opinion
not the best stories by Maugham
not the best stories by Maugham