I enjoyed your review of this excellent novel. Like others have noted in the preceding comments, I too have been a lifelong fan of Maugham's writing. His short stories are excellent. "Winter Cruise" and "The Three Fat Women of Antibes" are epic. There was a second movie adaptation in 1984 starring, of all people, Bill Murray as Larry. A very interesting choice, and not a bad movie at all. Maugham does what he does particularly well as a writer, which is to occupy a peripheral "observer" role in his own stories. (He most often writes in the 3rd person). What makes "The Razor's Edge" such an excellent story is the paths the various characters take, including what befalls each of them, in their individual pursuits for happiness. The character of Sophie is particularly tragic, yet compelling. And the Elliot Templeton character is a fascinating study of a classic snob and social climber. (He's played particularly well in the 1984 movie by the late Denholm Elliot). Maugham is addictive. And rightly so.
Thank you so much for adding this context. I haven't seen the 1984 adaptation and Bill Murray does seem an odd choice but I shall take your word for it and give it a watch one of these days.
Excellent overview of the book and the 1946 movie version, "The Razor's View". The other profound quote that you left out was: "Larry has found what we all want and very few of us ever get. I don’t think any one of us can fail to be better and nobler and kinder for knowing him. You see my dear, good is, after all, the greatest force in the world. And he’s got it. " That quote was in that last 2 minutes of the movie. If you want another novel, about "searching", I recommend Hilton's "Lost Horizons". I made a music video(Shangri-la music video (English version) ) with scenes from the 1938 movie, "Lost Horizons" and from Larry's epiphany scene in the Himalayas in the 1946 movie version of "The Razor's Edge. BTW, I first saw "The Razor's Edge" in 1959 when I was 14 years old. In 1965, I read the book. Ever since, that movie and the novel has had a tremendous impact in shaping me as a person.
I'm so glad I found this video. I have The Razor's Edge on my shelf and have been ignoring it. After watching your video, I am quite keen to pick it up! Great review!
Thanks! I'm interested to hear what you think of The Razor's Edge should you read it. Just subscribed to your channel and looking forward to catching up on your videos!
This was an excellent review Eston, I'm so glad you enjoyed it. I have to say I am a Maugham fanatic. He is such a great writer, his characters are always so sharply drawn that a person gets the feeling that they really know them. If you ever get the chance I would highly recommend The Painted Veil and The Moon and Sixpence, they are also very good. His short story Rain was made into the movie Miss Sadie Thompson of which several versions were made, one with Rita Hayworth, this is a great movie, although it deviates quite a bit from the original story. Finally, I think Tyrone Power was an excellent pick for the part of Larry. This was one of the few movies I liked almost as much as the book. Again, thanks for a wonderful book chat.
@ Lillian Nieswender I'm unfamiliar with his writing. This does sound intriguing. As to the movie, does it follow the book fairly closely? Or is it one of those situations where it's very different?
If you are talking about the movie of The Razor's Edge, yes as Eston said it follows the book very closely, not so with the movie adaptation of Rain called Miss Sadie Thompson, at least in the Rita Hayworth version, scenes were added that are not even in the story. Hope this helps.
Thanks Lillian and thanks for recommending this book and keeping it on my reading radar. I now plan on reading The Painted Veil and The Moon an Sixpence at some point. I also really liked his writing style. I loved Of Human Bondage and read it twice but that was more than 30 years ago so it is definitely due for a re-read this December! I haven't read the story Rain. I just looked it up and it was also the basis of the movie called "Rain" which starred Joan Crawford and which I love. I haven't seen the Rita Hayworth version but I'll be on the watch for it because I bet she's a fantastic Sadie! I had no idea that Rain starring Joan Crawford was based on a short story by Somerset Maugham... how interesting! I went to a charity bazaar a few months ago and picked up a boxed two volume set of Maugham's short stories so looks like I've got some side reading to do : )
I love creating my priority reading lists. A large part of the fun of reading for me has always been choosing my next book to read and I've found it really works for me to create a reading list of books to prioritize reading through in a year. I've already starting planning next years list! After I finish up the priority reading I move into a free reading period which lasts several months and then I finish out the year by devoting the month of December to re-reading. It's more structured than many people like but I feel it has a good balance and works for me.
Another great review and can’t believe how you are speeding through books!📚I just started with the later Sophie part so this really whetted my interest as to what will happen🤷♀️Rented the movie for 48 hours so can’t decide which to finish first.....glad Lillian recommended this to you!
I'm so interested to hear what you think about it (and the movie)! If you're at the Sophie part you are getting pretty close to the end. I really want to see the movie again. I will either have to rent it or watch for it to come on TCM again.
The speaker is quite inarticulate. Cannot sustain a train of thought for very long. Handicapped by modern-day verbal artifacts such as: "like..." "soooo..." "you know...." The chat is unlistenable.
I have watched the movie and read the book and watched the movie and am almost done with the book again. I do not think Tyrone is particularly credible -- his physical demeanor is too strong (for example, in a scene where he walked -- actually marched -- away in one scene and when he put the coin into Gray's hand - he slapped it down into Gray's hand 3 times) and, although there are some moments when he's the "soft" that is described in the book, mostly his eyes are piercing and hard rather than piercing and soft. I just watched Dirk Bogarde in Alien Corn/Quartet and if he could have done an American accent, his physical demeanor would have been better for Larry. I can't even picture Larry because I couldn't equate any of the lengthy descriptions Maugham said about him to Tyrone. Not that Ty wasn't easy on the eyes, and he does an okay job. Clifton Webb was OUTSTANDING. So was Anne Baxter. Gene was VERY good -- WSM must have seen something in her that *I* didn't see (ha ha).
My favorite book! Great review!
I enjoyed your review of this excellent novel. Like others have noted in the preceding comments, I too have been a lifelong fan of Maugham's writing. His short stories are excellent. "Winter Cruise" and "The Three Fat Women of Antibes" are epic. There was a second movie adaptation in 1984 starring, of all people, Bill Murray as Larry. A very interesting choice, and not a bad movie at all. Maugham does what he does particularly well as a writer, which is to occupy a peripheral "observer" role in his own stories. (He most often writes in the 3rd person). What makes "The Razor's Edge" such an excellent story is the paths the various characters take, including what befalls each of them, in their individual pursuits for happiness. The character of Sophie is particularly tragic, yet compelling. And the Elliot Templeton character is a fascinating study of a classic snob and social climber. (He's played particularly well in the 1984 movie by the late Denholm Elliot). Maugham is addictive. And rightly so.
Thank you so much for adding this context. I haven't seen the 1984 adaptation and Bill Murray does seem an odd choice but I shall take your word for it and give it a watch one of these days.
What other books are on your “Seekers” shelf? Thanks
Excellent overview of the book and the 1946 movie version, "The Razor's View". The other profound quote that you left out was: "Larry has found what we all want and very few of us ever get. I don’t think any one of us can fail to be better and nobler and kinder for knowing him. You see my dear, good is, after all, the greatest force in the world. And he’s got it. " That quote was in that last 2 minutes of the movie.
If you want another novel, about "searching", I recommend Hilton's "Lost Horizons". I made a music video(Shangri-la music video (English version) ) with scenes from the 1938 movie, "Lost Horizons" and from Larry's epiphany scene in the Himalayas in the 1946 movie version of "The Razor's Edge.
BTW, I first saw "The Razor's Edge" in 1959 when I was 14 years old. In 1965, I read the book. Ever since, that movie and the novel has had a tremendous impact in shaping me as a person.
Not in the book
I'm so glad I found this video. I have The Razor's Edge on my shelf and have been ignoring it. After watching your video, I am quite keen to pick it up! Great review!
Thanks! I'm interested to hear what you think of The Razor's Edge should you read it. Just subscribed to your channel and looking forward to catching up on your videos!
The poem by Keats has been the Leitmotiv for my life..."the day is gone and all its sweets are gone..., faded unseasonably at shut of eve..."
That is beautiful, thanks so much for sharing.
This was an excellent review Eston, I'm so glad you enjoyed it. I have to say I am a Maugham fanatic. He is such a great writer, his characters are always so sharply drawn that a person gets the feeling that they really know them. If you ever get the chance I would highly recommend The Painted Veil and The Moon and Sixpence, they are also very good. His short story Rain was made into the movie Miss Sadie Thompson of which several versions were made, one with Rita Hayworth, this is a great movie, although it deviates quite a bit from the original story. Finally, I think Tyrone Power was an excellent pick for the part of Larry. This was one of the few movies I liked almost as much as the book. Again, thanks for a wonderful book chat.
@ Lillian Nieswender
I'm unfamiliar with his writing. This does sound intriguing. As to the movie, does it follow the book fairly closely? Or is it one of those situations where it's very different?
If you are talking about the movie of The Razor's Edge, yes as Eston said it follows the book very closely, not so with the movie adaptation of Rain called Miss Sadie Thompson, at least in the Rita Hayworth version, scenes were added that are not even in the story. Hope this helps.
Yes, I meant the first. But thanks for the info on both!
Thanks Lillian and thanks for recommending this book and keeping it on my reading radar. I now plan on reading The Painted Veil and The Moon an Sixpence at some point. I also really liked his writing style. I loved Of Human Bondage and read it twice but that was more than 30 years ago so it is definitely due for a re-read this December! I haven't read the story Rain. I just looked it up and it was also the basis of the movie called "Rain" which starred Joan Crawford and which I love. I haven't seen the Rita Hayworth version but I'll be on the watch for it because I bet she's a fantastic Sadie! I had no idea that Rain starring Joan Crawford was based on a short story by Somerset Maugham... how interesting! I went to a charity bazaar a few months ago and picked up a boxed two volume set of Maugham's short stories so looks like I've got some side reading to do : )
I like the sound of your priority reading list. It's like communal reading challenges but more personal.
I love creating my priority reading lists. A large part of the fun of reading for me has always been choosing my next book to read and I've found it really works for me to create a reading list of books to prioritize reading through in a year. I've already starting planning next years list! After I finish up the priority reading I move into a free reading period which lasts several months and then I finish out the year by devoting the month of December to re-reading. It's more structured than many people like but I feel it has a good balance and works for me.
Another great review and can’t believe how you are speeding through books!📚I just started with the later Sophie part so this really whetted my interest as to what will happen🤷♀️Rented the movie for 48 hours so can’t decide which to finish first.....glad Lillian recommended this to you!
I'm so interested to hear what you think about it (and the movie)! If you're at the Sophie part you are getting pretty close to the end. I really want to see the movie again. I will either have to rent it or watch for it to come on TCM again.
Thanks Peg. : )
Holy shit, I don't think I've ever seen someone diverge from the topic as soon as they start.
The speaker is quite inarticulate. Cannot sustain a train of thought for very long. Handicapped by modern-day verbal artifacts such as: "like..." "soooo..." "you know...." The chat is unlistenable.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, VERY USEFUL
Are you familiar with the TH-cam channel "Sommers Weltleteratur to go" ? Excellent introductions to great world literature. He did "Demian".
I am not familiar with that channel but will check it out. Thanks!
I have watched the movie and read the book and watched the movie and am almost done with the book again. I do not think Tyrone is particularly credible -- his physical demeanor is too strong (for example, in a scene where he walked -- actually marched -- away in one scene and when he put the coin into Gray's hand - he slapped it down into Gray's hand 3 times) and, although there are some moments when he's the "soft" that is described in the book, mostly his eyes are piercing and hard rather than piercing and soft. I just watched Dirk Bogarde in Alien Corn/Quartet and if he could have done an American accent, his physical demeanor would have been better for Larry. I can't even picture Larry because I couldn't equate any of the lengthy descriptions Maugham said about him to Tyrone. Not that Ty wasn't easy on the eyes, and he does an okay job. Clifton Webb was OUTSTANDING. So was Anne Baxter. Gene was VERY good -- WSM must have seen something in her that *I* didn't see (ha ha).