Summary
W. Somerset Maugham's The Razor's Edge, published in 1944, is a seminal work exploring spiritual awakening and the search for meaning in a materialistic world. The novel follows Larry Darrell, an American pilot traumatized by his experiences in World War I, as he embarks on a quest for enlightenment that takes him from Chicago to Paris to India. Maugham's own experiences, including his visit to Sri Ramana Ashram in India, heavily influenced the novel’s themes and philosophical insights. The author's nuanced portrayal of characters grappling with post-war disillusionment and the pursuit of happiness continues to resonate deeply with readers.
Plot
Set in the aftermath of World War I, The Razor's Edge follows Larry Darrell, a young American pilot traumatized by his wartime experiences. Upon returning to Chicago, Larry shocks his fiancée Isabel Bradley by rejecting conventional life and a lucrative job offer. Postponing their marriage, he embarks on a spiritual quest. He moves to Paris, where he immerses himself in philosophical studies and bohemian culture.
As Larry pursues his unconventional path, the lives of those around him take different turns. Isabel marries the wealthy Gray Maturin. Their mutual friend Sophie suffers a tragic loss that sends her into a spiral of addiction. Larry's journey leads him across Europe, where he works in a coal mine and encounters influential figures like a Polish army officer and a Benedictine monk. Eventually, his search for meaning takes him to India, where he has profound spiritual experiences.
Years later, the characters' paths converge in Paris. The 1929 stock market crash has left Gray and Isabel financially ruined, while Sophie has descended into alcoholism and drug abuse. Larry attempts to save Sophie by marrying her, but Isabel, still in love with Larry, sabotages their relationship. Sophie disappears and is later found murdered. Meanwhile, Isabel's uncle Elliott Templeton, a social climber, faces a lonely death.
The novel concludes with Larry deciding to return to America to live as a common working man, having found the spiritual fulfillment he sought. Isabel inherits her uncle's fortune but must live with the knowledge that she will never have Larry. The narrator, Maugham himself, reflects on how each character ultimately obtained what they most desired in life, whether it be social status, wealth, escape through death, or inner peace.
Themes
Spiritual awakening and self-discovery
Materialism versus enlightenment
Impact of war on personal values
Search for meaning in life
Contrast between Eastern and Western philosophies
Consequences of societal expectations
Transformation through unconventional experiences
Setting
Set primarily in the years following World War I, The Razor's Edge spans multiple continents and decades. The story unfolds against the backdrop of the Roaring Twenties, a time of economic prosperity and cultural dynamism in the United States and Europe. This era of excess and optimism contrasts sharply with the spiritual journey of the protagonist, Larry Darrell, who seeks meaning beyond material wealth.
The novel's geographical scope is expansive, taking readers from Chicago to Paris and eventually to India. Chicago serves as the starting point and occasional return destination for several characters. However, much of the narrative unfolds in Paris, a city that embodies both the decadence of the era and the intellectual pursuits of expatriate Americans. The City of Light becomes a crossroads where the main characters' paths intertwine repeatedly over the years.
India plays a crucial role in Larry's spiritual odyssey, though it occupies a smaller portion of the novel's setting. The subcontinent, with its ancient wisdom and mystical traditions, provides the transformative experiences that shape Larry's worldview. Other locations, including a coal mine in Lens, France, and the French Riviera, serve as important waypoints in the characters' journeys, adding depth and variety to the novel's rich tapestry of settings.
Characters
Larry Darrell: The protagonist and spiritual seeker. A World War I veteran traumatized by his experiences, Larry rejects conventional life to search for meaning. He travels widely, studies philosophy and religion, and ultimately finds enlightenment in India. Larry's journey of self-discovery forms the core of the novel.
Isabel Bradley: Larry's fiancée, who later marries Gray Maturin. Beautiful and materialistic, Isabel struggles to understand Larry's spiritual quest. She chooses a life of wealth and social status over Larry's unconventional path. Isabel's actions drive much of the plot, including her sabotage of Sophie's recovery.
Elliott Templeton: Isabel's uncle, an American expatriate living in Paris. A social climber obsessed with high society, Elliott serves as a foil to Larry's spiritual pursuits. His death scene provides commentary on the emptiness of his materialistic lifestyle.
Sophie MacDonald: Larry's childhood friend who falls into despair and addiction after losing her husband and child. Larry attempts to save her, but Sophie ultimately succumbs to her demons. Her tragic story illustrates the novel's themes of suffering and redemption.
Gray Maturin: Isabel's husband and Larry's friend. A successful stockbroker who loses his fortune in the 1929 crash. Gray suffers from debilitating migraines that Larry helps alleviate through Eastern techniques.
W. Somerset Maugham: The author appears in the novel as the narrator. He observes and comments on the other characters' actions, serving as a bridge between the reader and the story.
Suzanne Rouvier: A French painter and Larry's lover in Paris. She provides insight into Larry's character during his time in France.
Kosti: A Polish miner Larry befriends while working in the coal mines. He introduces Larry to spiritual ideas that influence his later journey.
Quick facts
The Razor’s Edge was published in 1944 and became a bestseller, helping to revive the author’s career.
The novel's title comes from a verse in the Katha Upanishad, an ancient Sanskrit text.
W. Somerset Maugham visited Sri Ramana Maharshi's ashram in India in 1938, which inspired parts of the book.
The Razor’s Edge was one of the first popular Western novels to explore Eastern philosophy and spirituality.
The character of Larry Darrell was partly based on Guy Hague, an American who studied at Sri Ramana's ashram.
Maugham claimed he “invented nothing” in the novel, basing the characters on real people he had met.
Maugham himself appears as a character in the novel, serving as the narrator.
The Razor’s Edge is widely considered Maugham's most ambitious and philosophical work.
Christopher Isherwood helped Maugham translate the Sanskrit epigraph for the novel.
The Razor's Edge has been adapted for the screen twice—in 1946 and 1984.
The 1946 film. starring Tyrone Power and Gene Tierney, features Anne Baxter in an Oscar-winning performance as Sophie. The 1984 version stars Bill Murray.
About the Author
W. Somerset Maugham (1874-1965) was a prolific English playwright and author. After an unhappy childhood and medical training, he found his true calling as a writer. He achieved early success as a playwright in the early 1900s, with multiple hit plays running simultaneously in London's West End. During World War I, Maugham worked for British Intelligence, drawing on these experiences for his Ashenden spy stories. In the 1920s and 30s, he traveled extensively in Asia and the South Pacific, using his observations as material for many of his short stories and acclaimed novels like The Moon and Sixpence and The Razor's Edge. Characterized by a clear prose style and an unsentimental worldview, his works also include the novels Of Human Bondage and Cakes and Ale, as well as short stories like “Rain” and “The Letter."
After World War II, Maugham retired to his villa in the French Riviera, where he continued to write and entertain lavishly. Though immensely popular with readers, he was often dismissed by literary critics as merely competent rather than great. Maugham himself was modest about his talents, saying he lacked the powers of imagination of the greatest writers. Nevertheless, his influence can be seen on writers like Graham Greene, George Orwell, and Ian Fleming.
Maugham died at the age of 91, leaving behind a vast body of work including 19 novels, hundreds of short stories, and over 30 plays. Several of his short stories and novels, particularly Of Human Bondage and The Razor’s Edge, are considered classics of 20th century English literature. Maugham's books have been adapted into numerous films and television productions, cementing his status as one of the most popular writers of his era.
