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The Fall of Edward Barnard
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About the author
W. Somerset Maugham
2,130 books6,112 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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September 14, 2020I've always liked Maugham's work, but only after reading his stuff now did I realize how much of it is colonialist garbage. Guess, better late than never.
February 1, 2022
Tahiti's charms of languid beauty, pragmatic endeavour and enterprise appeals above East coast commercial success and marriage to a caustic well-endowed lady of note.
A thoughtful and well-executed treatise on the perils of capitalism and progress compared to the exotic charms of colonial life.
Read for free here:
https://archive.org/details/trembling...
4 shimmering🎇
A thoughtful and well-executed treatise on the perils of capitalism and progress compared to the exotic charms of colonial life.
Read for free here:
https://archive.org/details/trembling...
4 shimmering🎇
March 18, 2016
Though this this tale is quite boring at first, I like the way Maugham effectively and a bit subtly presents two totally differing views regarding Edward's situation, concealing his opinions and leaving the reader the theirs...
January 30, 2022
One of Maugham's stories that made a strong impression in my mind. I re-listened this recently and realized that Edward Barnard (as well as Arnold Jackson) was a hippie before hippie was hip. He preferred to live a simple life without the confine of "polite society" and the trapping of fortune hunting and status seeking. He saw to differentiate needs and wants. Bateman was a different animal who preferred roads most traveled (as well as Isabel). There isnt right or wrong but a personal choice or preference. Maugham must have seen many westerners who had settled into island life and those who couldnt wait to leave the island to go back to bright light big city. I dont sense any judgment, just plain speaking story telling. Except the title that seems to take side from the city folks who were appaled by Edward, the young man who chose to live with the savages.
December 31, 2018
The short story 'The Fall of Edward Barnard' is written by the British author William Somerset Maugham. The language of this work is rich and very understandable. As many of Maugham's works, the story includes a strong moral message hidden beneath the actions in the plot.
The story began with thoughts of a young man, Bateman, who was coming back to Chicago from the Pacific island of Tahiti where his friend, Edward, lived. He needed to tell Edward's fiancee, Isabel, about something that happened on the island. The writer disclosed it only in the second part of the story.
The characters in the first part of the story behaved according to the rules and moral principles of the upper class. Edward and Bateman are in love with Isabel. Seeing Isabel's attitude toward Edward, Bateman accepted their love. "He would never marry. He would be godfather to the children of Edward and Isabel, and many years later when they were both dead he would tell Isabel's daughter how long, long ago he had loved her mother. Bateman's eyes were veiled with tears when he pictured this scene to himself."
Soon after Isabel and Edward’s engagement, Edward's father lost his fortune and committed suicide. As a means to support Edward, the friend of his father offered Edward a position with his firm in Tahiti. Edward accepted it in the hope of setting the basis for their future life. Before he left Chicago, Isabel's father talked with him about Isabel's uncle, Arnold Jackson, who lives in Tahiti. Isabel's father said to Edward, "My advice to you is to give him a wide berth, but if you do hear anything about him Mrs. Longstaffe and I would be very glad if you'd let us know."
Arnold left the US. He wrote a letter to Isabel every month, twenty-four letters for two years, but he never mentioned when he was going come back to Chicago. Once Bateman had a conversation with the owner of the company where Arnold worked. He knew that Edward left his job nearly a year ago. The management of the company concluded that he was 'lazy and incompetent'. Neither Bateman nor Isabel could believe in the company’s judgment of Edward, Bateman admitted. ‘He seems to have lost that high seriousness which I admired so much in him.' Bateman decided to visit Tahiti on the way from New Zealand (where his father had an agency) to Chicago.
Bateman came to Tahiti. Maugham included many details in the story, among these were the negative features of Bateman's character, which remained latent early on. During the conversation with local people, Bateman discovered an element of his personality which he wasn’t aware of before, "A touch of hauteur involuntarily entered into his manner."
He met his friend Edward in the shop, where he worked as a shop assistant. Edward established a good relationship with Isabel's uncle Arnold. Bateman was invited to Mr. Arnold’s mansion for a dinner with his family. Bateman felt humiliated being in the presence of these people (Edward, Mr. Arnold, his wife, and daughter). Everything that he saw while in Tahiti (Edward as a shop assistant, the impudence of Arnold Jackson who dared to invite him for dinner, etc.) was beyond the bounds of his understanding.
Edward, Arnold Jackson, and Mr. Arnold’s daughter greeted Bateman with sincere kindliness. Edward said to him, “Don't be grieved, old friend, I haven't failed. I've succeeded.” Once Edward became serious, they spoke about Isabel. Edward said that he loved Isabel, but his life was undergoing changes that would make it difficult for them to maintain their relationship. Therefore, he would prefer to end their engagement.
After Bateman told Isabel about his trip to Tahiti, she said:
"Poor Edward, he's nobody's enemy but his own. He was a dear, nice fellow, but there was something lacking in him, I suppose it was backbone. I hope he'll be happy.' She slipped the ring off her finger and placed it on the table."
Eventually, Bateman made a proposal for Isabel to marry him. "She gave him her lovely lips to kiss. And as he held her in his arms he had a vision of the works of the Hunter Motor Traction and Automobile Company growing in size ... And she ... sighed with happiness, for she thought of the exquisite house she would have, ... ‘Poor Edward,' she sighed. "
Maugham didn't express his attitude to the choices of Bateman and Edward directly, but the irony of the name of the story is clear. Sincere feelings of people can't be connected with money. The easy-going character of Edward seems to lead him in the right direction where people meet their happiness.
This is a link to the text of the story:
http://www.davar.net/EXTRACTS/FICTION...
The story began with thoughts of a young man, Bateman, who was coming back to Chicago from the Pacific island of Tahiti where his friend, Edward, lived. He needed to tell Edward's fiancee, Isabel, about something that happened on the island. The writer disclosed it only in the second part of the story.
The characters in the first part of the story behaved according to the rules and moral principles of the upper class. Edward and Bateman are in love with Isabel. Seeing Isabel's attitude toward Edward, Bateman accepted their love. "He would never marry. He would be godfather to the children of Edward and Isabel, and many years later when they were both dead he would tell Isabel's daughter how long, long ago he had loved her mother. Bateman's eyes were veiled with tears when he pictured this scene to himself."
Soon after Isabel and Edward’s engagement, Edward's father lost his fortune and committed suicide. As a means to support Edward, the friend of his father offered Edward a position with his firm in Tahiti. Edward accepted it in the hope of setting the basis for their future life. Before he left Chicago, Isabel's father talked with him about Isabel's uncle, Arnold Jackson, who lives in Tahiti. Isabel's father said to Edward, "My advice to you is to give him a wide berth, but if you do hear anything about him Mrs. Longstaffe and I would be very glad if you'd let us know."
Arnold left the US. He wrote a letter to Isabel every month, twenty-four letters for two years, but he never mentioned when he was going come back to Chicago. Once Bateman had a conversation with the owner of the company where Arnold worked. He knew that Edward left his job nearly a year ago. The management of the company concluded that he was 'lazy and incompetent'. Neither Bateman nor Isabel could believe in the company’s judgment of Edward, Bateman admitted. ‘He seems to have lost that high seriousness which I admired so much in him.' Bateman decided to visit Tahiti on the way from New Zealand (where his father had an agency) to Chicago.
Bateman came to Tahiti. Maugham included many details in the story, among these were the negative features of Bateman's character, which remained latent early on. During the conversation with local people, Bateman discovered an element of his personality which he wasn’t aware of before, "A touch of hauteur involuntarily entered into his manner."
He met his friend Edward in the shop, where he worked as a shop assistant. Edward established a good relationship with Isabel's uncle Arnold. Bateman was invited to Mr. Arnold’s mansion for a dinner with his family. Bateman felt humiliated being in the presence of these people (Edward, Mr. Arnold, his wife, and daughter). Everything that he saw while in Tahiti (Edward as a shop assistant, the impudence of Arnold Jackson who dared to invite him for dinner, etc.) was beyond the bounds of his understanding.
Edward, Arnold Jackson, and Mr. Arnold’s daughter greeted Bateman with sincere kindliness. Edward said to him, “Don't be grieved, old friend, I haven't failed. I've succeeded.” Once Edward became serious, they spoke about Isabel. Edward said that he loved Isabel, but his life was undergoing changes that would make it difficult for them to maintain their relationship. Therefore, he would prefer to end their engagement.
After Bateman told Isabel about his trip to Tahiti, she said:
"Poor Edward, he's nobody's enemy but his own. He was a dear, nice fellow, but there was something lacking in him, I suppose it was backbone. I hope he'll be happy.' She slipped the ring off her finger and placed it on the table."
Eventually, Bateman made a proposal for Isabel to marry him. "She gave him her lovely lips to kiss. And as he held her in his arms he had a vision of the works of the Hunter Motor Traction and Automobile Company growing in size ... And she ... sighed with happiness, for she thought of the exquisite house she would have, ... ‘Poor Edward,' she sighed. "
Maugham didn't express his attitude to the choices of Bateman and Edward directly, but the irony of the name of the story is clear. Sincere feelings of people can't be connected with money. The easy-going character of Edward seems to lead him in the right direction where people meet their happiness.
This is a link to the text of the story:
http://www.davar.net/EXTRACTS/FICTION...
June 20, 2025
The Fall of Edward Barnard by Somerset Maugham – one of my favorite writers, author of Jane https://realinibarzoi.blogspot.com/20... and other wonderful stories
10 out of 10
The Fall of Edward Barnard reminds me of The Ant and The Grasshopper, the fable by Aesop, which was re imagined by William Somerset Maugham, in this re-telling, the ant is no longer the unequivocal positive figure, the one we venerate for her hard work, good sense, resilience, and we see the downside of her attitude
The ant looks down at the grasshopper, who is enjoying time, somewhat, or completely reckless in the first version, telling him he has to work, for in winter there will be no warm days, he will need food, and the rest of it, which makes sense on so many levels, though not on all, there is Carpe Diem to consider and Serenity Now!
‘Happiness Activity No 9: Savoring Life’s Joys-paying close attention, taking delight in life’s momentary pleasures and wonders, through thinking, writing, drawing or sharing with another’ this is from one of the best books of positive psychology, The How of Happiness https://realini.blogspot.com/2014/07/...
The glorious author, Sonja Lyubomirsky explains how Savoring is crucial, and we should also consider the hedonist philosophy – these days, stoic, hedonic concepts have changed their meaning, they were not as radical as people think, hedonic did not mean dissipation, eating more than sensible, it had to do with pleasures of the spirit…
The Ant and The Grasshopper and The Fall of Edward Barnard would share the discovery of pleasure, at least in my mind, Edward Barnard would be The Grasshopper https://realinibarzoi.blogspot.com/20... choosing a life of leisure
It is over simplifying, but when he travels to Tahiti, the main character has in mind making a good living, money to get back and Isabel Longstaffe, his sweetheart, but working hard does not seem the right thing for him, that would be the judgment of critics, those who favor Edward Barnard and his lifestyle would praise him
This also brings to mind The Harvard Professor Tal Ben Shahar, the one who gave the most popular lectures in the history of that institution, teaching positive psychology – you can find it on YouTube – and gave some fantastic examples https://realini.blogspot.com/2015/03/...
Sometimes stories from real life, like this one (apparently) this individual is trying to learn hard, to get good grades, so that he can get to a good, or one of the best universities, in which he struggles again, to get a good, one of the best jobs, then he works to climb the ladder, for promotions and recognition, assiduously
One day, the vice president comes into the office, and he thinks this is the big day, only they talk retirement, and that is the paradigm of the rat race, we learn in school for an elusive prize, and keep on it, to reach some goal that is not really worthwhile, as long as we do not make the connection, make it our calling
Returning to Edward Barnard, he realized in Tahiti that he was not made for this Hedonic Treadmill, did not want to keep running for some targets that do not have significance for him – yes there is the side of the affair with the woman that has remained in America, but she is also in a situation explained by the same Tal Ben Shahar
He explains how we get involved in false relationships and situations, by trying to project an image of ourselves, to potential partners and others, that is not real, it is embellished, for better chances of success, only as we have seen in comedies that the result can be awful, there are two possibilities here, as the professor explains:
The prospect likes the portrait, only she gets infatuated with someone else, for this is not us we are talking about, but some knight in shining armor that has very little, if anything, in common with the real person, or she does not like that portrait, and we lose in both cases, to somebody else or that flawed, false avatar
Therefore, I am thinking that Edward Barnard did not really ‘fall’, on the contrary, it seems he ascended in the lap of luxury – that is a Jethro Tull song – but in the spiritual sense, financially speaking, he failed, he is dressed with shabby clothes, but to me, he is the exception to the Hedonic Adaptation rule, in some ways…
Another Harvard Professor, brilliant Daniel Gilbert, has written the classic of psychology Stumbling On Happiness https://realini.blogspot.com/2013/06/... in which he looked at the myths that are connected with mirth, we say we would be happy, if only this or that were to happen
One of the most common is the ideal of living on a Pacific (Tahiti fits the description), Caribbean Island, California, but when those who made the move were studied, it was proved that they get used with the good things associated with the change, sun, palm trees, splendid landscapes, and then are annoyed by the shortcomings
This is called Hedonic Adaptation, and we get into the habit of not seeing the things we thought would make us ecstatic, it is recommended that we spend money on experiences, travel, and not assume that material goods will keep us felicitous…the move to Tahiti worked nevertheless for The Grasshopper Edward Barnard, he found a new life, which would better suit his wishes, there is the need to find your calling, and Tal Ben Shahar has advice on that too, look at the group of things you like, are good at, and have special significance, and where they intersect, you need to look for vocation
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.”
10 out of 10
The Fall of Edward Barnard reminds me of The Ant and The Grasshopper, the fable by Aesop, which was re imagined by William Somerset Maugham, in this re-telling, the ant is no longer the unequivocal positive figure, the one we venerate for her hard work, good sense, resilience, and we see the downside of her attitude
The ant looks down at the grasshopper, who is enjoying time, somewhat, or completely reckless in the first version, telling him he has to work, for in winter there will be no warm days, he will need food, and the rest of it, which makes sense on so many levels, though not on all, there is Carpe Diem to consider and Serenity Now!
‘Happiness Activity No 9: Savoring Life’s Joys-paying close attention, taking delight in life’s momentary pleasures and wonders, through thinking, writing, drawing or sharing with another’ this is from one of the best books of positive psychology, The How of Happiness https://realini.blogspot.com/2014/07/...
The glorious author, Sonja Lyubomirsky explains how Savoring is crucial, and we should also consider the hedonist philosophy – these days, stoic, hedonic concepts have changed their meaning, they were not as radical as people think, hedonic did not mean dissipation, eating more than sensible, it had to do with pleasures of the spirit…
The Ant and The Grasshopper and The Fall of Edward Barnard would share the discovery of pleasure, at least in my mind, Edward Barnard would be The Grasshopper https://realinibarzoi.blogspot.com/20... choosing a life of leisure
It is over simplifying, but when he travels to Tahiti, the main character has in mind making a good living, money to get back and Isabel Longstaffe, his sweetheart, but working hard does not seem the right thing for him, that would be the judgment of critics, those who favor Edward Barnard and his lifestyle would praise him
This also brings to mind The Harvard Professor Tal Ben Shahar, the one who gave the most popular lectures in the history of that institution, teaching positive psychology – you can find it on YouTube – and gave some fantastic examples https://realini.blogspot.com/2015/03/...
Sometimes stories from real life, like this one (apparently) this individual is trying to learn hard, to get good grades, so that he can get to a good, or one of the best universities, in which he struggles again, to get a good, one of the best jobs, then he works to climb the ladder, for promotions and recognition, assiduously
One day, the vice president comes into the office, and he thinks this is the big day, only they talk retirement, and that is the paradigm of the rat race, we learn in school for an elusive prize, and keep on it, to reach some goal that is not really worthwhile, as long as we do not make the connection, make it our calling
Returning to Edward Barnard, he realized in Tahiti that he was not made for this Hedonic Treadmill, did not want to keep running for some targets that do not have significance for him – yes there is the side of the affair with the woman that has remained in America, but she is also in a situation explained by the same Tal Ben Shahar
He explains how we get involved in false relationships and situations, by trying to project an image of ourselves, to potential partners and others, that is not real, it is embellished, for better chances of success, only as we have seen in comedies that the result can be awful, there are two possibilities here, as the professor explains:
The prospect likes the portrait, only she gets infatuated with someone else, for this is not us we are talking about, but some knight in shining armor that has very little, if anything, in common with the real person, or she does not like that portrait, and we lose in both cases, to somebody else or that flawed, false avatar
Therefore, I am thinking that Edward Barnard did not really ‘fall’, on the contrary, it seems he ascended in the lap of luxury – that is a Jethro Tull song – but in the spiritual sense, financially speaking, he failed, he is dressed with shabby clothes, but to me, he is the exception to the Hedonic Adaptation rule, in some ways…
Another Harvard Professor, brilliant Daniel Gilbert, has written the classic of psychology Stumbling On Happiness https://realini.blogspot.com/2013/06/... in which he looked at the myths that are connected with mirth, we say we would be happy, if only this or that were to happen
One of the most common is the ideal of living on a Pacific (Tahiti fits the description), Caribbean Island, California, but when those who made the move were studied, it was proved that they get used with the good things associated with the change, sun, palm trees, splendid landscapes, and then are annoyed by the shortcomings
This is called Hedonic Adaptation, and we get into the habit of not seeing the things we thought would make us ecstatic, it is recommended that we spend money on experiences, travel, and not assume that material goods will keep us felicitous…the move to Tahiti worked nevertheless for The Grasshopper Edward Barnard, he found a new life, which would better suit his wishes, there is the need to find your calling, and Tal Ben Shahar has advice on that too, look at the group of things you like, are good at, and have special significance, and where they intersect, you need to look for vocation
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.”
May 8, 2017
قصة قصيرة
تحكي عن ان ما يسعدني و يرضيني ليس بسرط ان يسعدك و يرضيك
كل فرد يرى مستقبله بشكل مختلف تماما عما تعارف عليه المجتمع
تحكي عن ان ما يسعدني و يرضيني ليس بسرط ان يسعدك و يرضيك
كل فرد يرى مستقبله بشكل مختلف تماما عما تعارف عليه المجتمع
October 12, 2019
Одна з найкращих книг, котрі читала останнім часом. Що є падінням в очах одних - часом означає лиш падіння їх самих.
January 29, 2021
Моэм - прекрасный, и тут не было никаких сюрпризов. Мало того, рассказик стал знаком и путеводной звездой куда двигаться дальше. Моэм тут полон иронии и мастерски ее передает.
March 22, 2025
Another incredibly good short story by Maugham.
Amazing critique of capitalism and modern culture that is still so relevant today.
Its stories like this that really just make you question not only your past and current point in life, but more importantly where you want to be in the future and what goals you should set to reach this point.
10/10
Amazing critique of capitalism and modern culture that is still so relevant today.
Its stories like this that really just make you question not only your past and current point in life, but more importantly where you want to be in the future and what goals you should set to reach this point.
10/10
January 7, 2020
Comfy theme between east v. west and subtle bashing of consumerism and modernity
September 6, 2024
non-condescending, non-prescriptive tale about happiness in all its forms
June 22, 2020
This story reminded me of a line from a popular song:
“Now I'm looking for you
Or anyone like you”
From lyrics to “Koop Island Blues”
“Now I'm looking for you
Or anyone like you”
From lyrics to “Koop Island Blues”
April 4, 2020
De overweldigende indruk die Tahiti op Gauguin maakte (cfr."The Moon and Sixpence"), vinden we ook terug in het kortverhaal “The fall of Edward Barnard” uit de bundel “The trembling of a leaf”. In dit verhaal worden eveneens twee vrienden tegenover elkaar geplaatst (zij het hoegenaamd geen schilders, integendeel zelfs), maar de tegenstelling is hier veel pregnanter: Edward Barnard mag dan nog “gevallen” zijn in onze westerse ogen als gefaalde businessman, uit de tekst leer je eigenlijk precies het tegenovergestelde. Waarbij ik nog eens wil refereren aan de beschrijving van de natuur en de bewoners van Tahiti. Nochtans “vereenzelvigt” de schrijver zich met de verteller Bateman Hunter (ook al is het wel degelijk geschreven in de derde persoon), die ongegeneerd racistisch is. Een voorbeeld dus van de zeer ingewikkelde filosofie bij Maugham, die bijna het tegendeel is van de naturalisten. Zo ziet hij het goede in de boef en de schijn van braafheid bij de deugdzame. Of het voordeel dat deze laatste daaraan overhoudt. En ook zet hij zich heftig af tegen de “tranche de vie”-techniek. Hij wil een verhaal met een begin, een midden en een einde, een verhaal dat àf is en waarbij er als het ware geen “voor” en “na” is. Toch is hij bewust anti-sentimenteel, wat hij dan weer met de naturalisten gemeen heeft.
May 13, 2016
Perfect book about my parents' fears.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews