Collected Short Stories: Volume 4

by W. Somerset Maugham

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Genres: Short Stories, Fiction, Classics, Literature, British Literature, 20th Century, English Literature

576 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1952

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

[Trudie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Luckily, I wasn’t playing a drinking game with this collection of thirty short stories. A sip of gin for every mention of a gin pahit or a cheroot and a large slug for every-time I was morally outraged for every slight to modern sensibilities about race, colonialism and misogyny.

I decided to start my foray into Maugham, ill-advisedly perhaps, here at Volume 4 of his collected short-stories (are these the ones he might have preferred stayed in the third drawer of the writing desk ? I can't say for sure ). I selected these after reading a novella by Mirandi Riwoe called The Fish Girl which is based on Maugham's story The Four Dutchman. It's true I could have just stopped with that story but a morbid fascination bid me keep going. I have been keenly gathering and hoarding all my grievances about this book for the last month. Endlessly, polishing my outrage for when it came time to write this review.

Now, like a storm at sea, my disgust has rather run it's course and I came to a point where I decided I enjoyed this more or less because I couldn’t wait to see what poor women would be dispatched with next.

Obviously, Maugham is a capable writer, far be it from me to judge him based on these particular works. He is a consummate storyteller, and observer of human nature. These tales are engaging as both travel narratives and as a portrait of a bygone era. Every story in here is like an ode to the faded glory of the British Empire. But least I forget, what has mostly stuck with me from this experience.
Let us consider the women of this book :

* Poor Olive Hardy engaged in an incestuous relationship, driven mad by her brothers decision to marry, commits suicide.

* Marie-Louise murdered by flying "Indian Clubs" possibly for getting an ugly haircut ...

* "Malay girl", ditched by her English lover and cast as the murderous "witch" who killed him remotely via a hiccups curse. (She at least did much better than other "exotic girlfriends" - who never get named ).

* Darya Munro a married "promiscuous" Russian who tried and failed to start an affair with a virginal Scotchman - she ended up lost forever in a Borneo jungle.

* Miss Reid the virginal spinster who talked incessantly about trivialities, so annoying the men on board ship they conspired to arrange for a bewildered engineer to bed her and thus render her more or less mute ( oh yes, this was a vile concept )

I could go on, but I shall conclude by saluting you all, insidious and crafty woman of Maugham !.
To those that chase men into traps of marriage, will not let them have affairs and otherwise clip their wings. I raise a gin pahit to every frivolous and hysterical / smart and cunning / broad and dumpy / friendly but dull and pretty yet oddly unattractive woman that crossed my path.

You all deserve a novella of your own.

( My sincere apologies to Maugham scholars, I am sure he is very good, really )

[Shankar · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men ? ‘

Another set of impeccably delivered stories from Maugham as I would have expected. Each story calling out the uniqueness of ‘ the human condition ‘ ( a term I ma becoming familiar with from literature of that age ).

Each story is 20 pages so allows the reader a chance to come up for air before diving into the next.

Highly recommended.

[Sandhya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Much of what Maugham wrote was always greatly influenced by the numerous travels he made. In the course of his momentous writing career, there were few countries and cities that he did not visit. Yet, by his own admission Maugham found it difficult to open up and talk to the many strangers he encountered during his journeys. At the core he was a shy and introverted man. This, Maugham believed was an unfortunate handicap for a writer. Especially because no one could have been more interested and fascinated than him by the oddities in the men and women he met. Yet, he seemed to have managed rather well, as these experiences provided a rich source material for his stories.

And of course he had his fecund imagination. Maugham has been quoted saying that he could spend an hour with a person and quite comfortably come up with a decent enough story. But not everyone became a subject-matter for the writer, and what Maugham looked for in people was a singularity of character or circumstance.
Though a naturalist, Maugham laid a fair emphasis on making his stories engaging and entertaining and had a natural instinct for drama. Hence all the stories you see in this Volume (as is the case with all his writings), have something extraordinary in them, one way or the other.

As always, Maugham gives a lush description of his characters' physical self, surroundings, background. Often what the characters reveal in the end is an entirely unknown and unlikely facet of their personality. It is this hidden possibility in people that interested Maugham the most. Like a pathologist in a chemical lab, he liked to mix substances in various kind of solutions and watch the reactions that could take place.

These were stories that Maugham wrote during his stay in the Far East (Singapore, Malaysia). The place was under the rule of the British and the period setting is somewhere before WW2. The land at this point is dotted with Englishmen, as consuls, planters, skippers, captain and others. Their lives in the colony, interaction with the local Malay populace forms the subject matter for many of the stories. The steam ships that made travel so much easier in later years and completely altered the Englishman's attitude to his stay in colonies (he saw it as a temporary abode now as opposed to earlier), was yet to come. The long and dry ship journey also forms a significant backdrop to the tales.

This was a time when once an Englishman left for a colony, he spent almost his entire lifetime there. Often he took in a Malay wife as well, though the relation had no legally binding, and many left the woman and children behind (albeit well-provided for) if they did think of going back to England.

The White officers had important positions in the native land with spacious houses and a retinue of servants to do their bidding. This was convenient as well as flattering to the Englishman, many of whom took the posting out of some constraint back home. Suddenly now, they had power and enough money. Where they would have to follow the strictest austerity to make ends meet in England, here they could
almost be counted as rich. Naturally many looked upon with nervousness the prospect of going back to their homes after the end of their tenures. Many just stayed back,since by then they grew so comfortable in the skin of the native atmosphere. In fact, many of them didn't even relish the idea of confronting another White man after all these years.

Every story in Vol 4 is a gem. 'The Outstation' about two White men, a superior and his deputy, and the corroding effect of their mutual hate, is especially brilliant. These two men staying and administering an alien land, far away from their own country, despise each other, as both are offended by the other's peculiar bearing. Warburton, the colonial officer, is widely considered a snob, because he adores aristocracy and replicates the same English habits in the colony. Yet, he is fair and reasonable in his duties, and very fond of the natives. He isn't very thrilled on being told that a White man would be joining him in the district. The anxiety turns into a severe irritation when he meets the man who would be his deputy. Cooper, having heard of Warburton's elitist bearings, is determined not to appear subservient in any way. Believing offence to be the best form of defence, Cooper gets outspoken and rude. Warburton is positively shocked and offended by his junior's words but is keen to appear fair and dignified at all times. Their hatred grows with time with each being consumed with a gnawing anger for the other. Maugham achieves great narrative constancy, and the story is a marvel in character build up.


more...http://sandyi.blogspot.in/2012/02/col...

[Steve Payne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This fourth book in the official four book Collected Short Stories of Somerset Maugham is a first class and highly consistent affair. My tried and trusted system of the last thirty-five years – marking every novel and short story I’ve read out of ten and writing a couple of sentences to remind me of the plot and what I liked and disliked about it – tells me that of the thirty stories on offer here, I’ve rated sixteen of them good to excellent and only five falling below par.

Starting with the very best, they would be:-
‘The Book-Bag’ – A fascinating story of a man who falls for a woman who is very close to her brother. What’s going on? How close? Rich in atmosphere and characters.
‘The Kite’ – A man is caught in between a domineering mother and wife. Another enjoyable character study of some very stubborn people. This was nicely filmed in the film Quartet (1948).
‘An Official Position’ – We hear of the life of a former convict in a French jail who later becomes the executioner. In addition to the usual Maugham character study, this also has elements of horror and adventure – making for a gripping read.
‘The Letter’ – A married woman murders her husband, but there is an incriminating letter. Another great character study of opposites which moves swiftly along. It’s understandable why this was filmed at least three times to my knowledge.
The next group are the very goods:-
‘The Back Of Beyond’ – This is one of those very typical Somerset Maugham stories that I love. Out in the colonies, one man tells another his story of infidelity. It grabs you from the beginning – no one comes close to Maugham for this ability. It’s a gossipy tale, made fascinating by the characters, setting and fast style.
‘A Man With A Conscience’ – Lies are told by two friends who are after the same woman. But was it all worth it? Again, it’s the great setting and characters that pull you along.
‘Masterson’ – An Englishman in Burma tells the narrator about his Burmese woman, who wants him to marry her. Beautifully told. My most consistent complaint about stories is that they’re too long. Not here though. I wished it were longer.
‘The Outstation’ – In Borneo, a gentleman is not keen on his new ‘working-class’ help; who is insolent, badly mannered, and treats the locals poorly. It’s another good class/conflict character study set in an exotic location.
‘Red’ – A South Sea islander falls for a white man. They live together until he is abducted, she then spends years with another white man. The atmosphere, sense of exotic place and character descriptions and relationships are a joy to read.
And the merely good:-
‘P & O’ – A man falls ill on board ship. Is he the victim of a mystical cult? Begins and ends well. I have to confess I may need to read this one again as I lost it a bit in the middle! Twas a hot and sunny day and a few Baileys were rolling around my insides.
‘Episode’ – An upper-class woman falls for a working-class man. Typical character/conflict driven story from Maugham
‘A Woman Of Fifty’ – A woman marries a poor gambler. The man becomes jealous when he thinks his father is having an affair with his wife. Enjoyably gossipy story.
‘The Lotus Eater’ – A man gives up his job to live on his pension – which he has worked out will allow him twenty-five years of fun in Capri. As in the story ‘Mayhew’ (also in this collection), Maugham (the narrator) says he likes the person who doesn’t live life to the norm, which is fine enough, but he never gives these characters a happy ending. I like this story of a character who’s in love with nature.
‘Winter Cruise’ – A lone Englishwoman on a German cargo ship bores the crew senseless. A fine tale which perhaps peters out a touch at the end.
‘Mirage’ – An Englishman living in China marries a local. When he goes back to England he finds that his heart is still in China. Atmospheric.
‘Neil MacAdam’ – A young naïve man goes to work in Singapore, where the boss’s wife takes an interest in him. One of those entertaining gossipy Maugham stories, maybe a tad too long this time.

The Somerset Maugham four book short story collection is my ultimate read. If you’re in a bit of a lackadaisical doze and in two minds whether to read or not, choose a Somerset Maugham short story collection and be transported to the exotic with a bunch of intriguing characters. You can’t go wrong…

[Manuel Alfonseca · Rating 3 out of 5]

ENGLISH: 30 short stories by Maugham. The story I liked most was "A matrimony of convenience," which is very funny. I also liked "The wash-tub," "Mabel, "Raw material" and "Red." The latter is a prose developed version of the poem by the Spanish poet Campoamor: "After twenty years he comes back; on meeting, he and she exclaim: Good Heavens, and this is she! My God, and this is he!"

ESPAÑOL: 30 cuentos de Maugham. El que más me gustó fue "Matrimonio de conveniencia", que es muy divertido. También me han gustado "El cubo de la colada", "Mabel", "Materia prima" y "Red". Este último es una versión novelada del poema de Campoamor: "Pasan veinte años, vuelve él, y al verse exclaman él y ella: ¡Santo Dios, y este es aquel! ¡Dios mío, y esta es aquella!"

[Paula · Rating 5 out of 5]

A master storyteller.

[Jeanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading all 4 volumes I can easily say Maugham is my favorite short story writer - it's easy to see why some of these became movies since everything is vividly evoked quickly but fully and the drama is of the everyday variety but universal as well. He's a magician - worlds you've never seen except maybe in the movies are brought to life and characters are never stock or boring but seem true. I will reread these again to try to figure out how he does it but also for the sheer pleasure of them.

[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 many of the Ashenden spy stories.

[Teresa Rokas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thirty stories exploring the human condition - love, passion, betrayal, prejudice and loss are common themes. Very character driven with some very interesting people. Most of the stories take place in Malay and Singapore when they were still British colonies.

[Smiley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finally I finished reading Maugham’s “Collected Short Stories Volume 4”, enjoying most of them, that is, from its 30 stories I liked “The back of beyond”, “An official position”, “Winter cruise”, “The letter”, “The outstation”, “A casual affair”, and “Neil MacAdam” due to their own unique style, dialogs and sentimentality. Of course, other readers can see things differently while reading them and thus prefer their own favorite stories. Interestingly, nearly most of them set in Malaya before their independence as Malaysia in 1957 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malaysia) have portrayed various duties of those British or Scottish characters as well as their ways of interacting with their native subordinates. As far as I gathered from my reading years ago, he liked and enjoyed visiting our country but he wrote only two stories “Princess September” set in Siam and “A marriage of convenience” set in Bangkok. One of the reasons might be probably concerned with his inspiration and due description on looking at things and people then under the British colonial rule as viewed by an outsider himself.

[David Holford · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love these stories, despite their political incorrectness to the modern reader. It is true that the treatment of women, not to mention the depiction of the colonised peoples of South East Asia, is uncomfortably sexist and racist at times, but how could the stories be anything else given the time they were written? It seems self indulgent to judge literature of a past age by modern sensibilities. Laying this discomfort aside in the name of historical context, I loved the descriptions of character and place, and the intriguing stories which so well describe the eccentricities of human nature. There is no doubt in my mind that Somerset Maugham is a master storyteller, with a flair for description of people and place, and I found these stories wonderfully entertaining.

[Realini Ionescu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short Stories by William Somerset Maugham – author of A String of Beads – my note on this is at https://realinibarzoi.blogspot.com/20... where there are multiple other reviews

10 out of 10

In his introduction to his Complete Stories, illustrious Somerset Maugham talks about his travels to the Far East, meeting people there, planters, representatives of his majesty, or her royal highness, when Queen Victoria was the ruler, these were the colonial days, when The British Empire covered what, a fifth of the world

The fabulous writer explains that most of those he talked to, encountered in these remote places were ordinary humans, would play tennis in the afternoon, when possible, went to the club, if there was one nearby, had to read the Times (was it the London Times I wonder) after six weeks, this is what it took for the paper to reach such remote corners of that vast colonial power, while the Singapore newspaper also took a week or so
It was before the advent of the airplane, these were British subjects who were admirable, but also that rather uneventful life could not be the subject of literature, Somerset Maugham, tells readers that the tales have to be exciting, or at least that was the point, the way I saw it, and it makes sense, we need entertainment

This is interesting on a few levels, because indeed, we do not normally get the interesting elements when we talk to hoi polloi, and I often remember Thomas Mann https://realini.blogspot.com/2021/09/... and something I have read when I was a teenager (such a long time ago)
One character is looking at the way we keep saying ‘I love you so much, there are no words, or evaluations of friendship’, and he says this is nonsense, words like love, friend have a meaning and we can only find that in art, fiction, because in reality, when we test love, it does not pass the test, it is emphatic, not genuine

On the other hand, the news over the past few years, just before 2016 in fact, have been peppered – or sprinkled is the word I am looking for – with the shenanigans, enormities, lies, insults, stupidity of one Orange Jesus – this is the name some members of his cult have found for him, and it suits him so well, if not perfectly
CS Lewis https://realini.blogspot.com/2023/09/... was a scintillating luminary, and he has a few books on religion, he makes a very strong case, and at some point he says Jesus Christ was either the son of god, or else the biggest fraud, we have to take one of the two alternatives

In the case of this Orange Replica, this is a convicted felon now, rapist, pathological liar, a disturbed, weird fellow, upset by Narcissistic Personality Disorder – last night, he was invited by the Association of Black Journalists – maybe there is another name for that, but never mind – and he was off to his usual shtick…
He said this repeatedly, over the years – ‘he was the best president for Black people, since Abraham Lincoln’, so preposterous as to be indicative of the need for interment in a mental institution, then he said that his opponent, Kamala Harris, just ‘discovered she is black, for she had used her Indian heritage up to now’

Words to that effect, but this is a sick man, and making the rather outré connection with the stories of Somerset Maugham, I was thinking about the inspiration, how those colonialists the author met in the Far East were normal, the message there being that the ones we encounter are mostly too banal to make it on the pages of books
But here you have the whole range of madness, delusions of grandeur, messianic complex, narcissism, cruelty…he keeps talking about ‘acing the cognitive tests’, given to him twice presumably, only those were not for that, and besides, a few weeks ago, when he boasted, he forgot the name of the doctor who was another crook

Then there is the problem of the about seventy million people who will vote for this ‘lunatic’ – he keeps calling the foes crazy, only he is an absolute nut case- if you have a few Mad Men https://realini.blogspot.com/2017/05/... that is to be expected
Only when such huge numbers choose stupidity, vileness, immorality, depravation, and often in the name of…’sanctity’, evangelicals see in this devil the hand of God, and yes, the ways of God are unknown- for those who believe in Him, for the rest of us, it is clear, there is no God – but really, choose the most abject creation!?

There are many practical voters, ‘it will be better for them, what with lower taxes’, my sister, who is an endocrinologist in Chicago, often told me about colleagues who hate it when their hard work, taxes, are wasted for the support of lazy bums who would not work, and right, that is not fair, only choose la merde?
Besides, as The Economist was arguing, in the long term – that saying came to me now ‘in the long term, we are all dead’, coupled with ‘après Moi le deluge’, the latter was Louis XVI, maybe, Le Roi Soleil – the policies that Orange Jesus – they do not call him that, but I hate the man and the name, so I would rather not put it in front of my eyes – would embrace could be very dangerous, from those huge tariffs that would result in high prices, inflation and so on, to the unpredictable – some to be expected – measures that will affect NATO, stability, he wants to give up most of Ukraine to Russia, and then let them ‘do whatever the hell they want’

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.”

[وائل المنعم · Rating 1 out of 5]

The collection not remarkable from any aspect, It's a work of a man who just eat from his profession as a writer so he has to keep writing. It lacks the originality and creativity. I keep reading Maugham intentionally for the progress in my English.

[Abby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maugham can write an interesting story, but I get the sense he's more interested in describing the aesthetics of people and place. Not sure if he does this brilliantly, but certainly an enjoyable read.

[Lawrence Salani · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantastic book, and I recommend it to anyone wanting to improve on their writing skills or as just an entertaining read. I decided to branch out from my horror genre and into something a little different. The stories take place in Asia and are full of characterization and atmosphere. I read some W. Somerset Maugham in the past but never looked into the man and his other work. Well crafted stories that keep you in suspense till the end and leave you wanting more. Standout stories in this book are "Red" and "Neil MacAdam."
I am currently absorbed in another volume of his work "The Trembling of a Leaf."

[Adam Calhoun · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've come to the conclusion that short story collections work best (for me) when they are a _geography_. That is: they represent a unique and otherwise unknown place. It is the setting of these stories that connects them. The world-building.

This collection of Maugham's short stories is great partly because they are set in a portion of the world - British Colonial Southeast Asia - that I don't think I have otherwise read about much.

Some great stories, some slight. Maugham's stories mostly seem to have a similar pattern of: someone arrives on a boat. Meets intriguing local. Gets told a story. Shocking ending.

[Larry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Over the years since childhood I have dipped in and out of the unique short stories of Maugham, what a joy, even in reading for the ? time! Is there a better storyteller? His unique style is more akin to William Trevor who sometimes also needs a longer runway to tell a story. I would consider some of these short stories to be more like novellas, they are not Chekhovian in their succinctness but in Maugham's broader stroke of storytelling unique and powerful. 

[Simon Bradley · Rating 5 out of 5]

The last of the 4 penguin books of his short stories - this one is probably the best - nearly all the stories are set Malaya and Borneo, fantastic descriptions and a picture of how life was for the colonial societies out there in the early c20. Al of the stories are about love and desire and the constraints put upon them by society. His stories are extraordinary and the subjects he covers are at times very amusing and at others quiet uncomfortable.

[Vicki · Rating 3 out of 5]

I only read the first four stories. They were interesting and well written but tragic! The thought of embroiling myself in 30 tragedies didn't appeal so I left 26 of them unread. The only aspect of the stories that tempted me to read on was the setting in South-East Asia in the early 20th century, very interesting from a social history stand-point but not worth all the angst.

[John Fetzer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am reading all 4 volumes of Maugham's short stories. I was looking for the Federated Malay States (F. M. S.) ones. They are in this volume, along with ones in other southeast Asian nations - Burma, Siam, Indonesia, the Torres Straights islands (of Australia). All in the era of early 20th century. Quaint, a lost time.

[.biblio · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simple stories told in an equally simple but engaging manner.
A lot of moral greyness going around that makes the characters feel very real. it's entirely possible they were real, after all.
Occasionally Maugham drops a hard bar after all the unflowery prose.
I first started this when I was too little to read it, and it feels like the themes of this tome have grown with me.

[HansBlog · Rating 4 out of 5]

Attraktive Sammlung mit mehr Licht als Schatten. Meine ausführliche deutschsprachige Besprechung ist hier:

http://hansblog.de/kritik-kurzgeschic...

[Ash]

"Most people we run across mean so little to us that we never bestir ourselves to look at them. We just suffer the impression they make on us."

"And yet to me his life was a success... He did what he wanted and he died when his goal was in sight and never knew the bitterness of an end achieved."

[Aditya Mallya · Rating 4 out of 5]

The remote, wild setting of British South East Asia makes for some great stories, and is the perfect foil for Maugham's signature observations about human nature.

[Peter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutně skvělé povídky, Hans Korte byl mistr. Mám radši původní verze, ale tento překlad velmi doporučuji.

[John King · Rating 5 out of 5]

There wasn't one mediocre story in this collection. Maugham is a master story teller. In many stories he plays the minor character observing narrator.

[Ayan Dutta · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best one out of the four volume collection of short stories !

Stories of longing , despair , Love , Life , Death ..

[Eva Hnizdo · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is fantastic. Best short stories I ever read.

[Scull17 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm shopping for the other volumes even as we speak.

[Bhasker Menon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant Book . Typical Maugham . Kite and escape are some of the best short stories in English literature