THE TREASURE, a Short Story by Somerset Maugham
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 25 พ.ค. 2024
- Richard Harenger is a contented and responsible man working at the Home Office, living a life of moderation and enjoying simple pleasures like bridge, golf, and travel. He hires a competent house-parlourmaid named Pritchard, who becomes indispensable in managing his household with impeccable skill and discretion. Despite their professional relationship, a moment of kindness leads Richard to take Pritchard out for an evening, culminating in an unexpected romantic encounter. The next day, Richard regrets his actions, fearing ..... won't reveal more here.
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She is smart and had her release of tension just as he did. There is no mysogeny here. She has a great job with him and is too smart and competent to stay if she is not happy.
What a joy to have things like this to listen to when the offerings on television are below garbage in enjoyment. Thank you for this.
And thats why I haven't had a tv for almost 8 years. 😁
So true!
Imprisoned by convention, comfort and habits Richard Harrington was a very happy man as long as he wasn’t exposed to the possibility a true and deep human connection.
Thus is the happiness of the upper classes.
Absolutely right on comment. This is what I appreciate most about out Maugham short stories. I don’t see them as art in the way I see a sculpture, but as a news report on the society of the time. It it “timeless” in the way of artistic depiction of beauty? I don’t know what I think right now.
And Pritchard? How do you explain HER happiness?
Acceptance.
@@anitaholst7671she got what she said she wanted which was a good home. She was good at her job to the point that she made herself indispensable and if she was let go it would be with very good references as she'd come to him with and a decent pay off. She was now even going to get a night out and bed.
He was a civil servant, not upper class.
I’m impressed by the comfortable lifestyle he has on a home office salary.
Those were the days. Staff and good staff could be had.
Everything changed because of Hitler😢, damn.
@@Edo9River What????
Ha, civil servants earn plenty!!
He had some private money of his own.
Listening to several of these stories, leads me to believe that Maugham was a good, dignified, and eminently reasonable man, somehow. You can’t say that about a lot of great writers.
The man was, apparently, an absolute shit. A sexual degenerate, snob and dilettante. He was a renowned seducer of young men and behaved in despicable fashion. It wasn't the embracing of his homosexual desires after abandoning his beard wife it was more the absolute selfishness of his entire life which made him such an unpleasant character.
Yet I enjoy his writing.....
Pritchard was a treasure, hope eventually someone found that out. He didn't deserve her !!!!
Somerset Maugham is tops. Since my youth ( that being quite some time ago now), I have not read Somerset Maugham. It certainly is a treasure.
A happy man...but a very lonely isolated man? Beautiful story ❤
I've been non-stop listening to these
Maugham short stories...❤
Me too! 😊
Enjoyed this story ,sad though.
Golly, this really touched me. Thank you for sharing with all of us. I appreciate Maugham more with every new short story.
I enjoyed this now thoroughly!
A nice ending.
Well appreciated, sincerely
What a fantastic story, almost unreal.
My feelings exactly
Love Somerset Maugham!
I get the feeling that after he's not feeling so afraid, he might ask her to the movies again.
She's married up- completely out of her class. And he can never do without her. Now, not even sexually. Smart woman.
This is what I love about Maugham. He allows the reader to take the story where it will go. 😊
I would like to think that they are friends. Mind you, she knows her place. But once a year, maybe on Chridtmas, they could go and have a night out. Delightful ❤
@@charlesj.shields9765 No, I do not think this sort of thing would repeat. Harenger was a careful man.
I am sure he will....he was just scared because it was the first time...this is likely to become a habit until he finds someone to marry!, and it won't be Pritchard...
Somerset Maugham is one of my favorite authors. I have two big books of his short stories. I just discovered these on TH-cam!
Only Sommerset Maugham frames it as such - enjoyable to the word.
I look so forward to these stories theey all are treasures. Thank you
I think most women learn men want everything without commitment. For her it was enough. I just hope he gave her a huge raise.
How very sexist.
I genuinely think she’s the kind of woman who didn’t want any commitment either.
and a huge long lasting orgasm
Eh?
I don't get it.
Victorian robot slaves or summat ?
I keep coming back to this one. What a sexy story, it's almost like i would want to live it myself. I think they loved or at least lusted after eachother from the beginning. The tention must have been delicious
A true vignette. Thank you for posting this.
A woman is like a well - provided table , Wich one looks at with a different eye before the meal ,than after!
This is a old french proverb, i have to admit have thought about more than I care for!
I"m smitten with Pritchard too!
There's an old saying, she chased him until he caught her. Well played, Pritchard, well played.
I am enjoying these Maugham short stories. Thanks for posting.
I'm really enjoying the use of English vocabulary all but defunct today.
Perhaps this story is an insight into the rigidity of class division. Wha'eva...love a good yarn😅
He took advantage of his position. She let him off the hook. The last sentence sums it up, "Richard was a happy man."
I bet.
In these days she didn’t have much choice if she didn’t want to loose her situation and reputation which would have meant abhorrent poverty, isolation and squalor.
I think you misunderstand. You are judging his POV from a 20th century perspective. He did not "take advantage of his position", he IS his position. There were things people could and could NOT do at every level of society then. Having sex with the help was one of them. For the master as well as the servant. Happiness has nothing to do with it. Harbinger was content, satisfied and certain within himself. For Maugham that is Happiness.
Great storytelling. The number of comments bemoaning the lack of love, sad ending, injustices of society, et. al., must all be from Americans.
I am a man born in the USA in the middle of the 20th century. Were I in the position of Mr. Harenger I would marry her. She is absolutely perfect. That was socially impossible in those times. What a loss for both of them.
Lovely story and thank you for adding it. Alas, I have never listened to a story/ play with so many adverts.
The stories are 🆓
I have just found these short stories. Read a couple in school long ago, but it's such a joy to find such a collection as audiobook, and no AI silly voices and mispronunciation! Yet. Thank you.
How wonderful to be such a woman ❤️
Who else but AI would shout "Asterisk, asterisk, asterisk" in the middle of a classic short storyI? 🤣🤣🤣🤣 Explains how this channel posts so many stories in so short a time. Not saying that's a bad thing -- they're wonderfully entertaining!
That was so bizarre!
😂
He was born in 1874.🤦♀️
And the sudden burst of an American accent . . . .
Will look out for this, and put a time stamp on it ... cos this doesn't sound like AI to me. *Channel could have accumulated a lot of readings, so as to release at a regular, planned interval.*
Another thoughtful probing story! 💚
Thank you for sharing!❤❤❤
This complicated story was superb! Keeping separate work from pleasure is difficult, it can be done.
Delightful!! ❤ most enjoyable story.
Very enjoyable and well narrated. Thank you
💢Don’t read before you listen!!
Seems she felt the same as he did. or she had a lovely evening and left it at that. she knew how to keep her man.
i have always appreciated Maugham very much. his short stories are so different and interesting, while also being poignant. seems though that woman and man never become a couple. 🌷🌱
Prittchard had his entire life in her hands. The power to expose him as a seducer of serving staff!
You can be sure that he saw her in a new light afterwards, as when he gazed at her from behind his morning paper and watched her from behind.....
It leaves this snapshot of comfortable upper-middle class life before WW11 on a high note.
But it hardly ends there..... asterix, asterix, asterix.
Charming! ❤
Knowing your class and knowing your place is everything.
???
BS!
what was accepted in the early 1930s (The Treasure, 1934) is ridiculous in the 21st century.
Doesn't mean modern readers can't enjoy Maugham, but please-
'Knowing ones place/class'??
@@poorthing Agree with your observation! People who say such things are usually delusional about their class status and place in society. Typically, such people think very highly of themselves for no good reason other than artifical standards they have established. Truly great people don't do this and can be found across the entire spectrum of humanity.
@@poorthing Agree totally with your observation! People who publicly comment on one's class and place in society are delusional and immediately mark themselves as being innately inferior/insecure. Truly great people do not feel the need to draw arbitrary divisions in society and can be found across the entire spectrum of humanity.
Obviously i didn't express myself well. I was observing that in this era knowing your place was everything. And I was marveling at it and thankful that in many societies, although sadly not all, this is no longer true.
I must admit, until the height disparity between herself, her deceased husband and Harenger's, I was under the impression that Pritchard was Harenger's estranged wife. She seemed to know precisely how everything should be. Aside from what was learned from the cook, Pritchard appeared too flawless, leading me to believe that Harenger was oblivious to his wife's appearance. His wife dressed according to her station in life, in contrast to someone in his employment.
This was an enjoyable read....Workplace romance.🌹💕
I agree, Harenger will invite Pritchard to the movies again.
Seriously? How likely would it be that his estranged wife, from his own class in society would willingly disguise herself as a parlor maid?? And to what end? To be his servant for life? Maugham would be rolling in his grave. The idea of "service" as a highly respected profession has long existed in England. I suggest you watch an episode of "Jeeves and Wooster" on TH-cam or Downton Abbey.
Thanks so much for these stories. I love them!
She was so much more intelligent than everyone. Damn. If only.
So enjoyable. Thanks
Patience is a virtue
Interesting. That was the message for me from the sermon yesterday. 😊
Typical of that society in those days.
The perfect maid, one who knew her station was denied of a decent marriage and knew it was unthinkable to marry Harenger that she probably was secretly in love with, counting from her yield to him. She certainly was not shy to deny him if she wanted to. Sad life for her.
Thanks, neuralsurfer; Thanks, TH-cam! What a pleasure to hear these tales in your voice!
If possible; I didn't quite understand your last word: Richard Harenger was a very... guy; Maybe if I do a little looping.
Okay, thanks again!
Maugham is such a powerful commentator on social norms and prejudices. Like Forster, and Wilde, a teacher. But unlike Wilde, very very stern.
Fascinating document of class based misogyny in a different time.
Misogyny is Hatred or mistrust of women.
Hatred of women. Contrast misandry.
Hatred of, contempt for, or prejudice against women. The story is about class and social status. It is not about hatred of women.
@@daywilliams1000exactly. Thank you 🙏
I heard no misogyny, only English class system and behavior.
@daywilliams1000 Wow. You really don't see it? Just wow
@@---Dana----
May i recommend the Nancy Drew mysteries for you.
I love his writing ❤
Very enjoyable listening. Thank you
It was a good one...... Hi from newzealand 🎉
I'm smitten with Pritchard,,
A GENIUS!
Thank you.
What a sad story. Thank you for your extraordinary narration.
My pleasure, said the bot!
So glad I found your channel. Maugham was amazing!!
🇨🇦What a discovery. This is changing my listening life. Here from Canada. BC remote location .
❤❤❤What a devastating story that ends with the parlor maid slipping away.😮😮😮 have I been taught some lessons about women’s rights in merr😮y olde England?
Wonderful.... ❤
So enthralled by this short story. I wanted them to marry. Civil being the operative word ….
Lovely story, as always. 📖🤍📚🌷👸🌷
Incredible !!! Excellent !!!
Nice little beautifully worded story
Thank you, I enjoyed the story very much, including the narrator and the piano!
Perfect.
Thank you for this 😊
I think I would be happy too!!!!!!
He had the "wife" and she, the "husband" that neither one wanted to be tied to Legally, but in a "partnership" that society accepted and approved - - He was happy and so was she .....
I find this story a bit heartbreaking, how social conventions retain two beings who obviously love one another, to live a happy life together.
Lovely story.
It's Harenger who's the treasure that's been found, although he thinks it's the other way around. Pritchard kept moving, from position to position, until she got the right, rich dimwit. Class didn't limit her. And, unlike a conventional marriage, she can leave any time.
Yeah, and what do you think of her proficiency? She could have had any job. And after being known from his employment even more so. Her efficiency was nothing but perfect. The word treasure was applied to her not Harenger, he was the lucky one. All he did was pay her and then he could forget all his cares to the point where he did not even have to tell her if he did not want to talk with someone or accept their invitation to the choice of the perfect outfit with the suitable tie. Now, I say, that is a kind of achievement unheard of. I believe there were very few of this excellence.
@@42kellys It's unheard of because the story is a fairy tale. The "perfect servant" arrived, all right. She stayed, she took over, and got the life only the wealthy enjoy. Cinderella bangs the prince without having to marry him.
Frankly, I think they BOTH came out ahead of where they were- and neither was taken advantage of. They arrived at an unspoken understanding.
@@donnachristman2528 Ah, second most intelligent, perceptive comment. Thank you.
What a narcissist.
The snobbery and self indulgence of the narrator is absolutely terrifying. E. F. Benson wrote brilliantly about the snobbery of small towns in Mapp & Lucia, but he wrote humorously whilst this story is ice cold and savage. It's very hard to listen to this, the totally self centred life of a man who cares for nothing but his own comfort. But it's horribly well observed.
I thought it was appalling and the characters made of wooden cut out dummies. I also found the narration set my teeth on edge.
@@dianapeek6936 It's AI - no soul although beautifully read.
It seems like that to us today but that was only the attitude of the times . I do however find the AI voice excruciating.
He’s not even close to being a catch
Reminds me of the movie “Remains of the Day.”
Quite right sir!
I read this years ago Wily was a true artist
Thank you
all these are brilliantly read and produced very interesting contrast with the mostly idiotic content on tube BRAVO
Also here,
Just the right time / length of the story for one go!!!!!!!
Cute story
What a writer😂
SPOILER ALERT Fall in love at the end and it's a movie... Which ones?
I've up graded from washer woman😂🤣🤣💃
Excuse me, I'm going to need the rest of the story please!!
that is the whole story as told by Maugham.
Maugham never tells everything - you are expected to fill in the gaps !
Good story! Still not trusting AI. I can't help but wonder if the comments aren't AI as well. Haha!l
Not this one. 😊
@@DreamingCatStudio Nor this !
Moi non plus !
Nor mine.
🙏🙏🙏💕👏👏
grazie
SM really understood the privileged selfish male of the day
Who does the beautiful artwork, please??
🙏🍀⛲️🍀🙏
Compare and contrast her with Wodehouse’s Jeeves!
So sad😢
Did he forget his station and she was obliged to remember hers!? A movie, a dinner, a dance or two perhaps will not be required in the future.😮
Friends no servants with benefits🤷
Isn’t it sad how we humans group everyone? From kindergarten, children can tell you who is at the top socially.
But, he’d always know and would probably always feel some guilt.
It was good for him to have another emotion besides smug self-satisfaction.
Bastard better do the right thing. Doesn't even know that he's in love with her.
Good
Charmant
The only reference to her dead husband was a disparaging “he never did a stroke of work …”. Just like her new boss. Does he even wipe his own butt ?
Well observed
That's what a class system is about
He's a civil servant for crying out loud. He goes to work every day at the Home Office or some such. Look it up.
I thought he had moved to a flat but had a wine cellar ?