Some critics over the years have claimed that Somerset Maugham lacks imagination and that his style is far from elegant. I can agree that his style is plain, but if indeed he is not imaginative, his powers of observation and description are nothing short of astounding. After reading the whole book, I can’t say with absolute certainty if it is just a novel, a memoir, or a fictionalized account of the author’s own experiences and encounters during the interwar period.
There are no uninteresting people in this book. The author shows understanding and compassion towards even the characters he least identifies with. There is something attractive (and sometimes redeeming) in each of them. The story takes place mainly in Paris, with extended scenes in Illinois, the French Riviera, and London. There is also a description of a journey one of the characters takes through Europe and all the way to Southern India.
Most of the characters are American, and Maugham makes a disclaimer in his introduction, saying that only people raised in a particular culture can understand that culture. As a result, he insists these people are Americans as viewed by an Englishman. I don’t think this was necessary. Though I am not an American myself, I saw nothing artificial or unrealistic about the characters compared to those we meet in American novels. People are people, and, with his compassionate look, Maugham makes us identify with everyone in turn, from the spiritual seeker to the lost soul, the ambitious snob, the limited but honest businessman, the vain housewife, the kept mistress, and everyone in between.
In fact, to look inside such a diverse group of people and find something likable or forgivable in each one demands a powerful exercise of the imagination. It is clear Maugham found – or put – something of himself in every character in the book. No mean feat, and so much for the claim about his allegedly poor imagination.
What about his style? It’s true that at no point during my reading did I stop and think, “I wish I could write like that.” But this means his style is unobtrusive and does not stand in the way of the narrative. On the contrary: I couldn’t stop reading and visualizing everything all the time—Paris in the roaring twenties, Prohibition Chicago, and even Southern India.
In short, I can't agree with the critics: Maugham for me is a major writer and this book is undoubtedly one of his best. There’s something else: he is not sloppy, as too many writers are. There’s a relatively long section in the book about Indian philosophy, and it is clear he did his research to present these complex thoughts to the best of his ability. As far as I’m concerned, he succeeded: I’m planning to read about Indian philosophy soon (but only after I read some more books by Maugham).
Much more important than everything I wrote above: this is a great book, a joy to read, and it transports us to other times and places. And, as usual with Maugham, it is tremendously mind-opening as well. Enjoy!
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Although listed as new it was disgusting,dirty and torn. Paragraphs were even underlined?
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Simpering and mincing on the cote de azure
Reviewed in Spain on November 12, 2022