第一人称单数

by W. Somerset Maugham

本书是一部短篇小说集，收录了六篇作者以自己生活中的人物为原型创作而成的小说。《贞洁》是作者间接参与的一个意外的爱情故事，涉及出轨以及死亡。《整整一打》讲述一个把娶整整一打老婆当作人生追求的男人的故事。《人性难测》描写了一个痴情汉的单恋的爱情。《简》刻画了一个人到中年却突然魅力四射的女人简。《异国他乡》讲述一个移民英国的犹太家庭的生活，以及一个青年的人生悲剧。《灵机一动》，一个女作家经历丈夫离走的打击之后重获灵感的故事。

Genres: Short Stories, Fiction, British Literature

276 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1931

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

[Luís · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a gift English novelist Somerset Maugham has for storytelling!
I understand why he was nicknamed the "English Maupassant"...
Maugham is a prolific novelist, and this new collection of short stories encourages me to read more of his work.

[L J Field · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great book of six novellas.

[Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Six stories, each about 40 to 50 pages. I liked five of them. I'd probably rate this book 4 1/2. Finishing the book saddened me! This is something. And some of the stories lingered! This is something else.

[Marina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a nice book. Six short stories with so much dept most of the time I had to stop and take a breather between each. I am not sure I can point out my favorite, but I can say that the book in general has some characteristics I love. The simple fact the First Person Singular is a writer makes it quite relatable. I giggled uncontrollably when I saw things I usually do described. All in all, a very good. A must reread.

[Connie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am actually reading the 1931 publication (old!!!) with no mention of ISBN #. Given to me by my first paternal grandfather-in-law.

[Glenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed all of these stories

[Katja · Rating 4 out of 5]

They could have been five (pruning the final one) but they are all good, if you like realistic stories about imperfect but likable people.

[Cristiana]

"É estranho que os homens, habitantes por tão pouco tempo de um Mundo inóspito e desumano, se dêem tanto trabalho para se tornarem desgraçados"

[Luke · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Round Dozen was a 5* story, the rest not so interesting.

[Nishan Gunawardena]

6 short stories... 4 of them pretty good, 2 of them not so good.