What do you think?
Rate this book
The Creative Impulse And Other Stories
Lectura graduada con textos adaptados según el nivel de conocimiento de vocabulario y estructuras gramaticales de los alumnos.
- GenresShort Stories
80 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1992
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
September 19, 2019
Maugham or Poe? That is the question!
Since Maugham has named Edgar Allan Poe in his story, The Creative Impulse, it’s rather occasional to have a comparison between them in their writing methods.
Let’s see what makes Maugham’s stories to be, at least for me, that boring, and on the other hand, what makes Poe’s tales so fascinating that I can’t let the book down until it’s finished.
I think the very quick answer is the unity of effect, which was mentioned by Poe himself as a theoretician of short fictions. Taking a brief look at Maugham’s stories shows that they suffer from a dreary verbosity. Maugham proceeds with describing his characters’ appearance and clothing, without much usefulness in the plot, more that his plot. The best example is this story. I think The Creative Impulse could be written in twenty pages instead of sixty.
Another problem is the titles. Maugham’s titles are too trite to be interesting for the reader. Again, this story can be a good example. Maugham’s titles are apathetic, don’t give an initial atmosphere to the story, and definitely fail in absorbing readers.
However, simplicity of Maugham’s prose has made him popular for a rather wide range of readers, but at least, his type is not my taste.
Since Maugham has named Edgar Allan Poe in his story, The Creative Impulse, it’s rather occasional to have a comparison between them in their writing methods.
Let’s see what makes Maugham’s stories to be, at least for me, that boring, and on the other hand, what makes Poe’s tales so fascinating that I can’t let the book down until it’s finished.
I think the very quick answer is the unity of effect, which was mentioned by Poe himself as a theoretician of short fictions. Taking a brief look at Maugham’s stories shows that they suffer from a dreary verbosity. Maugham proceeds with describing his characters’ appearance and clothing, without much usefulness in the plot, more that his plot. The best example is this story. I think The Creative Impulse could be written in twenty pages instead of sixty.
Another problem is the titles. Maugham’s titles are too trite to be interesting for the reader. Again, this story can be a good example. Maugham’s titles are apathetic, don’t give an initial atmosphere to the story, and definitely fail in absorbing readers.
However, simplicity of Maugham’s prose has made him popular for a rather wide range of readers, but at least, his type is not my taste.
December 24, 2019
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQrFP...
Description: The Creative Impulse by W Somerset Maugham was broadcast on BBC Radio 4 FM, on 6th March 1996. The first of six of W Somerset Maugham's short stories dramatised by Neville Teller and narrated by Dirk Bogarde. The authoress Mrs Forrester is horrified when her husband runs off with the cook.
NB: Sorry this recording has a few wobbles - my early internet connection days!
Mrs Forrester: Sylvia Syms
Albert Forrester: Desmond Barrit
Mrs Bullfinch : Anne Field
With Geoffrey Whitehead, David Collings, John Hartley, David Timson, Zulema Dene and Tracy Wiles.
Directed by Janet Whitaker
February 17, 2022
so boring, idk if I didnt understand the point of the book but thats my opinion rn
July 13, 2022
'The creative impuls' én 'The round dozen' zijn best gebietbare kortverhalen, het eerste door de verrassende wending en de leuke satire op egocentrische artistiekerige types, het tweede door het mooie portret van een polygamist mét charme.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews