Short Stories of William Somerset Maugham, Volume 1

De: W. Somerset Maugham

Narrado por: Charlton Griffin

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

Reseñas de la Crítica

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)

Great classic short stories

I love Somerset Maugham's novels and I was happy to devour this first volume of collected short stories. Unfortunately, one item repeats a short story contained in Far Eastern Tales. Some of the stories in this first volume remind me of Joseph Conrad -- Lord Jim, Almayer's Folly, The Painted Veil, and the Heart of Darkness. I can't get enough!

basically superb!

I've come to cherish Charlton Griffin's readings. As to Mr. Maugham's stories, I feel it impertinent to offer an opinion. My only negative would be that more than the chapter numbers should be given in the table of contents.

Delicious stories, well read.

Maugham has practically writen for Audible! A real storyteller, best of its kind.

Still Relevant

Wonderful introduction to William Somerset Maugham. The stories are delightful, entertaining, and relevant to todays listener.

we have met the enemy . . .

Gentle stories of passionate characters who missed the forest for the trees. Some are noble, some are incapable of being noble. These classic stories are worth a listen, especially now when our culture is so anti-introspective. Only complaint is that the reader occasionally mispronounces a word jarringly (ex. "row" as an argument rhymes with "cow", not "oh." Also end of "Antipodes" does not rhyme with "modes.") But no one bothers to prep for a reading today, it's all cold takes. Despite the shortcomings, it's still a fine recording.

Awesome

This is perhaps the best narrator doing an excellent job of presenting the works of my favorite author.

I thoroughly enjoyed this audiobook and would recommend it without any hesistation.

Great book and great narrator

Charlton Griffin is one of the greater narrators you will find on audible. His vocal range is amazing, and he is pleasant to listen to.

It helps that he has great stories to read to the listener. Contemporary writers do not have the wit, skill, patience, and talent of Maugham. Think of Chekhov with an English sensibility. I also enjoy the colonial settings of most of his stories. Not to be missed if you dislike genre fiction as much as I do and enjoy actual literature.

Very enjoyable--

This is my first encounter with Maugham's work and these are gems. Characters, suspense, humor and pathos in 30 minute --more or less--chunks. The narrator is first rate. Looking forward to volumes 2 and 3.

The Maughham after

These short stories are great to read, but even better to listen to. I've long enjoyed them, re-reading them every few years. Most are dominated by wash of colonial ennui, but nevertheless vary significantly, surprising and delighting on each occasion. The narrator is superb, despite his sometimes eccentric pronunciations, for example "orphan" for "often", but I'm told that this is what happens when an Oxford man one sips too many pink gins in tropical climes. Now, if only Audible got some Graham Greene novels as well.

Great stories, tedious

Marred by some producer or director who thought that adding jungle sound effects and music improves the book. They don't.