The Moon and Sixpence

Based on the Life of Paul Gauguin

By: W. Somerset Maugham

Narrated by: Stanley Green

Length: 7 hrs and 47 mins

Publisher's summary

"The Moon and Sixpence" is a novel by W. Somerset Maugham, first published in 1919. It is told in episodic form by a first-person narrator, in a series of glimpses into the mind and soul of the central character Charles Strickland, a middle-aged English stockbroker, who abandons his wife and children abruptly to pursue his desire to become an artist. The story is based on the life of the painter Paul Gauguin. A stunning classic by a master.

©2017 Audioliterature (P)2017 Audioliterature

I Enjoyed It

This was the monthly selection for a book club I attend. There were a number of audio versions available - I picked the cheapest one. I like to listen to a book on my morning walks.

I looked forward to this book because I had an interest in Gauguin - I believe that like me Maugham was curious what would make a man abandon his family and business to join the Paris art scene etc. In this book the artist is an Englishman named Charles Strickland. He is a very strange character and not at all likable. His life follows the general pattern of Gauguin's but I doubt if he was very much like the real person.At any rate it is an interesting story.

This narrator was a good choice - he is an excellent reader and creates distinctive characters. I probably would never have listened to this book were it not the selection of my book club, but I did enjoy the story. Maugham is an excellent writer the characters are well developed. They are certainly not typical - either in fiction or real life.

Returned because of performance

Stanley Green reads in the most monotonous, hard-to-follow tone I have ever come across on Audible. Only listened to 2 chapters so far but can’t go on with Stanley Green. Buying this book with another narrator