The Complete Short Stories of W. Somerset Maugham: 1 East and West

by W. Somerset Maugham

collected short stories from Somerset Maugham's world travels

Genres: Short Stories, Fiction, Classics, Literature, British Literature

960 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1921

About the author

William Somerset Maugham was born in Paris in 1874. He spoke French even before he spoke a word of English, a fact to which some critics attribute the purity of his style.

His parents died early and, after an unhappy boyhood, which he recorded poignantly in Of Human Bondage, Maugham became a qualified physician. But writing was his true vocation. For ten years before his first success, he almost literally starved while pouring out novels and plays.

Maugham wrote at a time when experimental modernist literature such as that of William Faulkner, Thomas Mann, James Joyce and Virginia Woolf was gaining increasing popularity and winning critical acclaim. In this context, his plain prose style was criticized as 'such a tissue of clichés' that one's wonder is finally aroused at the writer's ability to assemble so many and at his unfailing inability to put anything in an individual way.

During World War I, Maugham worked for the British Secret Service . He travelled all over the world, and made many visits to America. After World War II, Maugham made his home in south of France and continued to move between England and Nice till his death in 1965.

At the time of Maugham's birth, French law was such that all foreign boys born in France became liable for conscription. Thus, Maugham was born within the Embassy, legally recognized as UK territory.

Reviews

[Rick Slane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good short-stories many are set in the Malaysia-Indonesia area. Some are about a spy in WWI named Ashenden. In the preface to the edition I read, Maugham reflects on short-story writers Maupassant, Chekhov, and Conrad.

[Realini Ionescu · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Buried Talent by Somerset Maugham, author of A Casual Affair https://realini.blogspot.com/2014/06/... and other magnum opera

10 out of 10


What a felicitous, wonderful idea it was to start reading Somerset Maugham again, one of my two favorite writers – the other is Marcel Proust https://realini.blogspot.com/2013/06/... with his divine A La Recherche Du Temps Perdu – and the stories for Far Eastern Tales are exalting

One case in point is The Buried Talent, apparently, there is a Bible chapter where we have the parable of the man who took the coin (or maybe there were a few) and buried it, instead of doing something lucrative, useful with it, and we could say that this is the debate here, at the center of the plot, where maybe something was lost
Teddy Converse is now a plenipotentiary minister of her majesty the queen, on his way to Bangkok – we hear about what has happened in the Far East – and he is offered hospitality by the resident, only he prefers to stay at the hotel, where he receives a letter, asking if he should be called Sir, as he is such a dignified official

Only the person writing this message knows the protagonist very well, and feels like using Teddy, not your excellency or something of that sort – this reminds me of a sketch with John Cleese https://realini.blogspot.com/2017/04/... and Graham Chapman…
The formidable John Cleese is the host of a show and the guest is Graham Chapman, when the latter arrives on the set, the former is polite, and uses Sir Edward, only to ask if he can use Edward, which is agreed upon, but that does not satisfy, we have here a satire of the way things degrade, when people are rude

It is also true that the honorable aristocrat – or he could be just be a footballer that was knighted, and hence has the right to use Sir, and the others are obliged to use it, presumably, so we could have a laugh at pompous, self-absorbed brats – appears quite preposterous and somewhat haughty, not enough to justify the follow up
The host abruptly goes down to ‘Eddie baby, but the guest is displeased, or worse, and he refuses to accept this, and is ready to go, when Cleese, offers alternatives, just as absurd, hilarious, and provocative, can I call you ‘sugar pup’, or some such nonsense, and then he goes on, until he sees he can lose the star of the show

So, he goes back to Sir Edward, only to inflate the problem again, once the man has stopped from the way out, so getting back to our Eddie, from the Far East, he does not recollect who this woman might be, for a while, until he sees that she comes from the distant past, she must be middle aged now, but she was twenty-four…
When the two met and they had something of a menage a trois – could have been inspired by Somerset Maugham’s own experience maybe, I wonder, the giant writer was homosexual, at a time when this was illegal, and he had to navigate dangerous waters, like Oscar Wilde and so many others, who have paid dearly

In Summing Up https://realini.blogspot.com/2014/10/... we get some of the autobiographical stories that reveal the life of the luminary – in the first place, Eddie Converse thinks he will refuse the invitation made by Blanche McCadle – these are probably not the names in the tales…
I heard the audiobook version, and I am not sure if one is Converse, or some other name, and so on, if you are interested (and still here for some strange reason) the works of Somerset Maugham are in the public domain, you could find many (maybe most, or all) on sites like Gutenberg, Librivox and others and read them

Eventually, the minister accepts the invitation, tearing up the initial message, which declined it, and then they speak about Chamien (again, I have no idea if this is the name, the way you write it) the great love, perhaps for both of them, Teddy fell in love at first sight, he thought then that this will be forever and nothing will change
Blink – The Power of Thinking Without Thinking https://realini.blogspot.com/2013/05/... is a classic of psychology by Malcolm Gladwell, a marvel that explains Thin Slicing Theory, The Harding Effect, how John Gottman, the ultimate expert on couple therapy works with his subjects

Chamien was a talented singer, if Blanche was twice as good, and the former was willing to do anything for a career, and to live life in the French manner of ‘vivre a fond’, intensely, with gusto, ardor and passion, even if that leads to catastrophe…she spent with abandon, ate much, lost her voice eventually and declined
A spoiler alert might have even necessary somewhere above, but then I say few, if any, go beyond the first couple of lines, so there you have it – Blanche appears to have had a good life, loved by the doctor she had married, she has comfortable home, she is asked to sing in this part of world, and all is Wine and Roses
Only it is not, she regrets having lost the chance to sing, and she says that their friend, with the disintegration of career, life, had had a great fortune, though she would be found in the ocean, with a knife in her back

Now for my standard closing of the note with a question, and invitation – maybe you have a good idea on how we could make more than a million dollars with this http://realini.blogspot.com/2022/02/u... – as it is, this is a unique technique, which we could promote, sell, open the Oscars show with or something and then make lots of money together, if you have the how, I have the product, I just do not know how to get the befits from it, other than the exercise per se

There is also the small matter of working for AT&T – this huge company asked me to be its Representative for Romania and Bulgaria, on the Calling Card side, which meant sailing into the Black Sea wo meet the US Navy ships, travelling to Sofia, a lot of activity, using my mother’s two bedrooms flat as office and warehouse, all for the grand total of $250, raised after a lot of persuasion to the staggering $400…with retirement ahead, there are no benefits, nothing…it is a longer story, but if you can help get the mastodont to pay some dues, or have an idea how it can happen, let me know

As for my role in the Revolution that killed Ceausescu, a smaller Mao, there it is http://realini.blogspot.com/2022/03/r...

Some favorite quotes from To The Hermitage and other works

‘Fiction is infinitely preferable to real life...As long as you avoid the books of Kafka or Beckett, the everlasting plot of fiction has fewer futile experiences than the careless plot of reality...Fiction's people are fuller, deeper, cleverer, more moving than those in real life…Its actions are more intricate, illuminating, noble, profound…There are many more dramas, climaxes, romantic fulfillment, twists, turns, gratified resolutions…Unlike reality, all of this you can experience without leaving the house or even getting out of bed…What's more, books are a form of intelligent human greatness, as stories are a higher order of sense…As random life is to destiny, so stories are to great authors, who provided us with some of the highest pleasures and the most wonderful mystifications we can find…Few stories are greater than Anna Karenina, that wise epic by an often foolish author…’

‚Parturiunt montes, nascetur ridiculus mus’

“From Monty Python - The Meaning of Life...Well, it's nothing very special...Try and be nice to people, avoid eating fat, read a good book every now and then, get some walking in, and try and live together in peace and harmony with people of all creeds and nations.”

[Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not every story in this collection is five stars, but overall it's solid. I don't generally care for short stories, but Maugham is a master.

Longer review to come.

[Nancy Carr · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like Maugham's short stories much better than the novels of his that I've read (The Razor's Edge and Of Human Bondage). He excels at telling stories where things HAPPEN; the introduction to my edition, in which Maugham discusses the difference between stories with and without defined plots, is interesting in its own right and shows him as quite insightful about the strengths of his own work.

These stories are set mainly in the then-British-controlled areas of the "East," broadly defined, and offer a riveting window into the relationships between the British and those native to the countries, as well as the relationships within the British communities stationed overseas. "The Letter" is one of the most famous stories here, and was made into a film starring Bette Davis. Its plot -- about a faithless woman, her clueless husband, and the way the legal system treats an Englishwoman living abroad -- is probably the purest example of Maugham's craft in these stories. He excels at establishing characters, setting up a conflict, and delivering that conflict. His view of human nature is quite dark, but there's a wry amusement that saves these tales from being too hard to take.

[Albert Strong · Rating 5 out of 5]

Volume one of this set contains stories of an average length of pages making for a large book, 960 pages.

Many of these stories are outstanding and all, following the philosophy of the writer, contain a definite plot with a resolution of story at the end, unlike many short stories which are just slices of life. These stories revolve around the British colonial experience the South Pacific although some involve Maugham time with the British Secret Service during WWI. All are interesting and have a ring of truth seeming to be gleaned from his personal experiences and stories he learned of during those experiences. The most famous story among this collection is Rain and in the introduction he explains the incidents he witnessed that inspired the story. All the stories are very satisfying.

As always, his style and writing is exquisite. I admire this author very much and recommend these stories to you.

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Someset Maugham stories have it all, a master storyteller--passion among Westerners in foreign locales.

[Annabelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the delightful to the sublime, 30 short stories* by my favorite writer, Somerset Maugham. First read once upon a starry-eyed time, was it early 2014? Those first short story readings unleashed my adoration of almost anything by Maugham. The goods came in the form of old paperbacks, volumes 1 to 4. This rereading has been compiled into a boxed set of two full-bodied hardbound books, and cements my love for Maugham's storytelling oeuvre. Like a seasoned chef, he can whip up stories of different flavours based on the same basic recipe, all made from scratch. First published in 1921, I have the 1953 edition, and this book is the first of two volumes, containing stories written between 1919 and 1931. Very old world, I craved a mint julep and a cheroot each time I reached for the book.

Though the book is hefty, every story is every (word) inch worth the read. And worth the reread. The preface too, is not to be overlooked, as Maugham discusses the works of Maupassant and Chekhov, his forerunners and literary contemporaries in the serious business of the short story.

Maugham's the word!

* Since Volume 2 has 61 short stories, this batch can be labeled as "long" short stories; in fact, Maugham's Rain could easily classify as a novella. Excellent storytelling abounds here, and practically every story stands out. But among the collection of standouts, The Alien Corn still intrigues me most for its plot about self-serving, sham parenting.

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

I skipped around and didn't read all of the stories. Some I liked more than others.

[Dave Harmon · Rating 3 out of 5]

i read a sampling of recommended best stories. they were just OK. not enough to keep reading. i did note that The Hairless Mexican contains both the word persiflage and badinage

[Mikey B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is for both Volume I (East and West) and Volume II (The World Over)
- Hardcover Doubleday edition

This is simply a magnificent collection of short stories. In the first volume – East and West – the stories are roughly between thirty to forty pages each. In the second volume (The World Over) the length is more variable – ranging from a few pages to at most thirty. All the stories are quite different and each unique in their own way. They are an examination of the human condition; probing the basic human foibles that we all have; like greed, jealousy, envy, loathing, infidelity, lust – feelings that at one time or another affect and possess all human beings. Maugham scrutinizes the hurt feelings that are built around the love that human beings have for each other. Maugham weaves stories on these imperfect humans. The stories are narrative in scope and progress – one could say logically – to a sometimes sordid conclusion. This is what happens to people with imperfections. The stories reflect the human situation in which Maugham’s characters are swayed by the emotions that too often tempt and overwhelm them. Maugham’s narratives are well-rounded. Many of the endings are poignant.

Perhaps the Ashenden stories are the most autobiographical, for we feel that Maugham is speaking directly through him.

We also have the feeling throughout that the author is a brilliant observer of mankind. Not much would escape Maugham’s penetrating gaze of individuals at work or at play. He builds his characters with wonderful skill, we feel the tension and conflicts developing between them.

Some of the stories set in the Far East have racist epithets, but it must be remembered that these stories are not concerned with the native inhabitants – they are about the European colonialists who have come from afar to inhabit these lands. Maugham is a master at describing the vicissitudes of life of these displaced people living in an alien land. Maugham always wrote of what he knew – and it was the varied and precarious life of these colonialists that make up the bulk of the stories in the first volume. The first volume (East and West) progresses chronologically in the order that Maugham wrote them; one can feel his style maturing after the first few stories; which although interesting, lack the subtlety and emotional strength of the later stories.

The second volume has greater variation in terms of content – some are whimsical and poetical – there is even a ghost story – and some are very personal. Perhaps some lack the strength of those in the first volume, but because of their shorter length this lesser quality is easily overlooked. The human sketches are always intriguing. At over 1,500 pages these two volumes are an enormous output of very high quality.

Favourite quotations:
Volume I (from Mackintosh)
“ You’re not a bad fellow Mac. Only you’re a fool. When you’re doing one thing you always want to do another. That’s not the way to live.”

Volume II (from the Preface)
“inevitably the proper function of fiction, which is to tell an interesting story”
“Since the beginning of history men have gathered around the campfire or in a group in the marketplace to listen to the telling of stories”
Volume II (from A Friend in Need)
“We are a haphazard bundle of inconsistent qualities”

Volume II (from The Voice of the Turtle)
“She was hateful of course, but she was irresistible”

[Steve Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best novelist you never heard of.

This man is a genius. The ability to create a character and his incredible insight into people and weaving them into an interesting story.(run on sentence but I’m no Maugham).

I’m fresh with this author but he just landed in the top 5 on my favorite author list. ( behind the GOAT, Vonnegut )

[Andy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm unsure how I ended up with this old big clunky hardback, maybe I picked it up at a the second hand book market which used to be outside the national film theatre on the southbank, 30 years ago. Now, because it's about to fall to pieces, I decided to read it (I hadn't as yet) before sending it to paper recycling heaven.
I'm glad I did, because these short stories, writen at the turn of the century, up to the time of WW1, are a very nice collection of human observations. Mainly about peoples follies, greed and tragedy, but also of success and happiness. The first half of this book of stories are all set in the East. seemingly the Philippines, Australasia and Indonesia. The second half are all set in the West, mainly London and some in Europe. There is a great introduction by the author himself, which tells us about his philosophy of short-story writting and what he thinks makes good ones, which is a very interesting prelude.

If you happen to stumble upon this collection in a second hand bookshop, you should pick it up and read the stories sparingly, without hurrying, to appreciate them better. That was my experience, and it was a good read.

[Carmussel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This incredible set of short stories, and its companion, 'The Whole World Over' offer delightful characterization, incredible descriptions of world sites, mostly the South Pacific, and especially Maughamish twists. I've read these story sets most decades since my teens, with equal enjoyment each time!

[Haoyan Do · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoy this book as much as his other short story collections. Fortunately the overlapped stories are not as much as in the 2nd book of this series. I like "Louise", "The Ant and The Grasshopper" etc, but other stories are equally enchanting. He would be a truly great author if he exercised more tolerance and indulged in less prejudice.

[Jerry · Rating 5 out of 5]

After four novels and this short story collection I’ve purchased five more of his works, now refer to the mid-day meal as tiffin, and can’t wait to order my first gin pahit (gin, bitters and absinthe). I’m officially a Maughaman

[Richard Seltzer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great, relaxing reading for the beach.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit plodding in places, but a mostly-interesting read. Many of the stories are set in post-WWI British colonies in Far East or exotic locales. The storytelling device of a character recounting some personal drama to another character gets tiresome after awhile. Maugham’s British spy Ashenden gets ten or so stories in here, which saves the book overall. Not a casual read, but not terrible.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maugham is great writer and many of these stories are superb. However, some of them are also filled with sexist and racist language (particularly orientalism.) Maugham's short stories would be best appreciated in a shorter collection which leaves out some of the more problematic work.

[Luz Bee Gees · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5

[Deborah Schuff · Rating 4 out of 5]

These stories were written between 1919 and 1931, when "the sun never sat on the British Empire" and classism and racism were rife. The British believed that they were "civilizing" "benighted" peoples. Take these attitudes into account and be aware that they are background, and you will find a wealth of stories dealing with human nature. I think only Maugham and Rudyard Kipling wrote of what it was like to help "run" the Empire, and they are both well worth reading if only for that. But do also read between the lines to see how things were for the "governed."

My mother has owned three of the four-volume paperback edition of these stories for most of my life. I read them during my high-school years and enjoyed them immensely. I was never able to find the missing volume though. Then in October 2013, my mother and I found the first volume of the two-volume hardback edition at the American Association of University Women's used book sale. We passed it up because the second volume wasn't there. Later I searched Amazon and found both hardback volumes at a reasonable price from a library. Success at long last!! I'm now rereading them and enjoying them once more.

[Lise · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting but extremely irregular in the quality of the stories. Some of them are totally fascinating, other are utterly boring and definitely not worth reading, while some suffer of Maugham's love of stylistic effects which end up weakening a good story. It covers a great variety of locations, from Indonesia to England, with Maugham casting himself as the detached observer of his fellow human beings foibles. However, he often ends sounding extremely patronising or even judgemental. Some of the stories have clearly aged badly.

[Brett Brunmeier · Rating 5 out of 5]

Taken as a whole (90+ stories,) it's hands-down the best collection of short stories I've ever read. Maugham's clear style, sense of place and time, and ability to tell a fine yarn in limited real estate, are just plain wonderful. He seems to be fading from recognition now as some of his works are passing the century mark, but you owe it to yourself to check him out.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whether you are a reader or a writer of short stories, W. Somerset Maugham is a classic author who must be read and considered. In his "East and West" volume, you will find his better stories. They include most of the Ashenden spy stories.

[Isaac Beach · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's a shame Maugham was not writing when speculative fiction was a respectable genre. The premise of each story is more often than not quite good, but the limitations of reality make each denouement a little tired. Such is life.

[Razael · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best short stories i'v ever read. Maugham is so underated author :(

[Sherry Gallagher · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely and highly quotable writer.

[عُلا الفوارس · Rating 2 out of 5]

i read mackintosh from this collection