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The Verger
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About the author
W. Somerset Maugham
1,815 books6,197 followersWilliam 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
August 30, 2025
The Verger by Somerset Maugham
Emotional Intelligence – EQ vs. IQ
Albert Edward Foreman is the hero of this short story and an exceptional, although he hasn’t learned to read or write. And he has a problem with that.
The man who is putting Albert Edward on the spot is the new vicar. The Verger still regrets the old vicar, for the new one likes”to have his finger in every pie”
And here we may speculate on the experience of Maugham. In his book The Summing Up, which is in part an autobiography, the great writer talks about his personal experience with men of the church.
Maugham was so disappointed with the vanity and falseness of his own uncle, a clergyman, that he stopped believing in God, albeit he would be looking for religious answers later on in life.
Every man selects a system of thinking that suits him…is more or less the idea that seems to lead Maugham in his quest for answers to the big questions. For philosophic system, he had picked up Bertrand Russell, until he discovered this about Russell:
- “He is like the architect that tells you that you should build your house of brick and then says that cement would be the best option, until he comes up with stone as the proper alternative…in the meantime; you have no roof over your head.”
Maugham has a way of thinking which happens to be my own, in religious matters. He would not believe in a God that insists so much on adoration, that will get revengeful if you fail to worship him every second- not in these words, but I hope that I have got the idea right.
- “I will not believe in a God that is less tolerant than myself” – and I agree with Somerset Maugham- very often it seems that the mortals description of God is wrong-
- God seems to be a vulnerable, vengeful, insecure being- always in need for affection, confirmation and the like.
Coming back to The Verger- he is exposed in a meeting for being unable to read or write.
Strangely, the truth is in the details and is not what it seems. Albert Edward, with No education at all, illiterate is the superior man and the vicar, if in appearance way above the verger, as a matter of fact has a very low EQ- emotional intelligence.
The verger is compassionate: “give 'ím time, he’ll learn” this is the way he feels about the new vicar, who, on the contrary is impatient and lacks critical thinking abilities.
When an official meeting is arranged, Albert Edward can see at once what the other participants feel. In the words of Martin Seligman, the verger has a signature strength called “street smarts”
The point of the official council is to fire the verger.
Unless he is able to read and write at the end of a couple of months.
But Albert Edward confesses that he had tried before, when he was younger and it did not work. He was unable to learn to read and write.
- “But how did you manage?
- My wife writes my letters for me…
- Don’t you want to know the news?
- I seem to manage very well without…”
Then some extraordinary things happen.
First of all, The Verger proves again his excellent worth, and instead of pleading or being humble, he took the opposite attitude:
“He knew his value and he wasn't going to allow himself to be put upon.”
So he refuses to stay, even for the two months that were on offer. Albert Edward offers his resignation.
Then the second outlandish thing happens to an outstanding personage, but about this I will only say that it is dismaying and connected with…cigarettes.
In order to let you enjoy and suffer the shock of the end, I will not reveal The Verger’s next move. But it goes to prove an argument I have been reading about lately.
Recently, it has been argued that EQ is more important than IQ.
Emotional intelligence will get one much further than a superior IQ.
Albert Edward is one proof, but there are now many studies that show his case to be a rare one, in its amplitude, but average in the sense that a common man with a good emotional intelligence will do better than a vicar, say.
Emotional Intelligence – EQ vs. IQ
Albert Edward Foreman is the hero of this short story and an exceptional, although he hasn’t learned to read or write. And he has a problem with that.
The man who is putting Albert Edward on the spot is the new vicar. The Verger still regrets the old vicar, for the new one likes”to have his finger in every pie”
And here we may speculate on the experience of Maugham. In his book The Summing Up, which is in part an autobiography, the great writer talks about his personal experience with men of the church.
Maugham was so disappointed with the vanity and falseness of his own uncle, a clergyman, that he stopped believing in God, albeit he would be looking for religious answers later on in life.
Every man selects a system of thinking that suits him…is more or less the idea that seems to lead Maugham in his quest for answers to the big questions. For philosophic system, he had picked up Bertrand Russell, until he discovered this about Russell:
- “He is like the architect that tells you that you should build your house of brick and then says that cement would be the best option, until he comes up with stone as the proper alternative…in the meantime; you have no roof over your head.”
Maugham has a way of thinking which happens to be my own, in religious matters. He would not believe in a God that insists so much on adoration, that will get revengeful if you fail to worship him every second- not in these words, but I hope that I have got the idea right.
- “I will not believe in a God that is less tolerant than myself” – and I agree with Somerset Maugham- very often it seems that the mortals description of God is wrong-
- God seems to be a vulnerable, vengeful, insecure being- always in need for affection, confirmation and the like.
Coming back to The Verger- he is exposed in a meeting for being unable to read or write.
Strangely, the truth is in the details and is not what it seems. Albert Edward, with No education at all, illiterate is the superior man and the vicar, if in appearance way above the verger, as a matter of fact has a very low EQ- emotional intelligence.
The verger is compassionate: “give 'ím time, he’ll learn” this is the way he feels about the new vicar, who, on the contrary is impatient and lacks critical thinking abilities.
When an official meeting is arranged, Albert Edward can see at once what the other participants feel. In the words of Martin Seligman, the verger has a signature strength called “street smarts”
The point of the official council is to fire the verger.
Unless he is able to read and write at the end of a couple of months.
But Albert Edward confesses that he had tried before, when he was younger and it did not work. He was unable to learn to read and write.
- “But how did you manage?
- My wife writes my letters for me…
- Don’t you want to know the news?
- I seem to manage very well without…”
Then some extraordinary things happen.
First of all, The Verger proves again his excellent worth, and instead of pleading or being humble, he took the opposite attitude:
“He knew his value and he wasn't going to allow himself to be put upon.”
So he refuses to stay, even for the two months that were on offer. Albert Edward offers his resignation.
Then the second outlandish thing happens to an outstanding personage, but about this I will only say that it is dismaying and connected with…cigarettes.
In order to let you enjoy and suffer the shock of the end, I will not reveal The Verger’s next move. But it goes to prove an argument I have been reading about lately.
Recently, it has been argued that EQ is more important than IQ.
Emotional intelligence will get one much further than a superior IQ.
Albert Edward is one proof, but there are now many studies that show his case to be a rare one, in its amplitude, but average in the sense that a common man with a good emotional intelligence will do better than a vicar, say.
May 27, 2013
I took 70minutes in total. but...I enjoyed this stories very much.
Especially, the story, "a string of beads," is great.
7 words governess rich party pearl theif mistake countess
Q When is your turning point for you?
A I think it is high school days for me. The days are precious..
Especially, the story, "a string of beads," is great.
7 words governess rich party pearl theif mistake countess
Q When is your turning point for you?
A I think it is high school days for me. The days are precious..
July 11, 2025
I’ve always wanted to read Somerset Maugham’s work, and this was the first book I picked up — now I’m instantly in love! Maugham doesn’t rely on magical realism or absurd plots. Instead, he dives deep into human nature with sharp insight and subtle emotion. Though the story is short, it’s incredibly relatable. If you read closely, it leaves you with lingering thoughts that stay with you. A beautifully simple yet thought-provoking piece. 4.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
September 1, 2021
good and nice short stories
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews