Lovely, and Long 'Short' Stories

This collection is great. It captures the art of what I think WSM did best - rather extended short stories. They are mostly long enough to really build the plots, create many characters, and lead you through a proper story, but end with you wanting a bit more. This collection covers a lot of ground: love, marriage, honour, and adventure - often with a bit of humour.

The narration from Robert Powell perfectly matches the period and the settings. Very good.

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8 people found this helpful

Simply superb!

Somerset Maugham has complete mastery over the written word & over the art of story telling. Robert Powell reads these stories faultlessly, with such consummate fluency & skill it is a joy to listen to his voice.

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Wonderful Writing

It is so pleasing to get such wonderful writing and storylines; the narration was great.

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Can't beat Somerset Maugham for story telling

Each story transports the listener to a time when the British ruled an exotic part of the world.
beautifully read by Robert Powell

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Lovely insight into the Empire!

These stories were amusing, tragic and interesting from a historical perspective. Well written and read.

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4 people found this helpful

just great

Loved it a great experience well read just good quality collection of stories well done.

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Perfect

Has there ever been a better storyteller than Somerset Maugham? And these are substantial short stories which, if you have the slightest interest in short stories, are gripping.
And the narrator is perfectly suited to delivering them, adapting just the right voice for the different characters.
The only caveat is that many of Somerset Maugham‘s stories are a little bit grim! So if you don’t find suicide and depression in the slightest interesting or entertaining then perhaps try something else!

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Trip down memory lane

I really enjoy WSM’s characters (having grown up in the Far East I can sympathise with some of them). Robert Powell reads them all so well, including great accents
Real shame the chapters don’t correspond to the stories - makes finding them very difficult so down a star for that.

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depressing stories wonderfully read

these stories show some of the strengths and weaknesses of Maugham as a writer. the weaknesses come out more in this collection, most notably the way in which his own unhappy marriage colours and distorts the marital relations in these stories. The result is depressing, ending in suicide or breakup. The stories also have elements that are unbelievable, e.g. the story of the pearls. but Robert Powell's narration is superb.

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Beautifully narrated, a real storyteller

I love Somerset Maugham he tells stories so beautifully. I don't care if they're out of fashion or non PC. They are of the time and therefore historically interesting and well crafted. Ultimately they tell the story of the human condition with all its failings and frailties. I first read Maugham over 40 years ago and they are still captivating. Robert Powell is a brilliant narrator. His voice is pure magic and he enunciates clearly and with great emotion. I enjoyed it so much I looked for other readings from him but there were none that interested me.

Sit back and enjoy and be transported to the Far East in another era.

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7 people found this helpful