Be Specific About About Books Mrs Craddock
Title | : | Mrs Craddock |
Author | : | W. Somerset Maugham |
Book Format | : | Paperback |
Book Edition | : | Anniversary Edition |
Pages | : | Pages: 256 pages |
Published | : | December 1st 1992 by Penguin Classics (first published 1902) |
Categories | : | Classics. Fiction. Novels. European Literature. British Literature. Literature. 20th Century. Romance. English Literature |
W. Somerset Maugham
Paperback | Pages: 256 pages Rating: 3.8 | 925 Users | 89 Reviews
Relation In Pursuance Of Books Mrs Craddock
Excerpt from Wiki:"Maugham had some difficulty finding a publisher (for this book). Completed in 1900, the novel was eventually published in 1902 by William Heinemann, but only on the condition that the author took out passages which, according to Heinemann, might have offended the readers. A successful and popular book, Mrs Craddock was reissued in 1903 and again in 1908. In 1938 the first non-Bowdlerized version, stylistically improved by Maugham, came out."
Non-Bowdlerized means a non-censored version, i.e. Heinemann's previous omissions had been reinserted. This is what I have read, the 1938 edition based on Maugham's original manuscript with only minor punctuation and grammatical corrections. It begins with a short but interesting introduction about both the book and its author.
In this novel, W. Somerset Maugham describes extremely well the marriage of two, where love is not equally reciprocated. Which would you choose: to love another with all your heart or to be yourself loved with passion? Think about this awhile. It is not a simple question.
Bertha Ley comes to be married to Edward Craddock. Bertha is passionate and devoted. Edward is virile, handsome and strong, at least at the start, when they marry. A good man, virtuous and honorable but also level-headed and placid and totally obtuse to Bertha’s emotional needs! Is he really as kind as he seems? She is marrying down, but she doesn’t care; she is marrying for love! He is marrying up in society, but only if he can prove his value to those of status in the community. A marriage of two individuals, each having completely different temperaments. Maugham draws each superbly well.
The setting is a country village, Blackstable, in Kent, about 1890 to 1900. There are excursions to London and Paris and Rome. The question is: who will make these excursions and who will remain home? He or she, but not both.
The story is about taking chances.
Th story is realistic and true to life.
Maugham capably and fairly draws two diametrically opposed characters. He uses irony often. He equally well makes clear his own values, but never shoving his views down your throat. Besides marital incompatibility, religion and politics, love and passion, common good sense, public opinion, education and the value of travel are the varied themes cleverly woven into the story. Maugham is talking to his readers, subtlely expressing his views through the story. I like stories that make me think. I also like how he accurately draws another time and place different from my own showing both what is shared what has changed.
The audiobook I listened to was narrated by Beth Chalmers. I really did not like the voices she uses for several subsidiary female characters, particularly Fanny Glover, the sister of a town vicar; I found these ridiculously squeaky and shrill. Nevertheless, the story is easy to follow, and the other characters’ voices are fine. I also liked how you audibly heard the maturation that occurs in Bertha. I have given the narration three stars; on the whole, I liked it.
If you have not read W. Somerset Maugham, you should. My advice would be though to not necessarily start with his most acclaimed book!
Mrs Craddock 4 stars
Cakes and Ale 4 stars
The Painted Veil 4 stars
Christmas Holiday 3 stars
The Moon and Sixpence 2 stars
Of Human Bondage 2 stars
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Specify Books Supposing Mrs Craddock
Original Title: | Mrs Craddock |
ISBN: | 0140185941 (ISBN13: 9780140185942) |
Edition Language: | English |
Characters: | Mary Ley |
Rating About Books Mrs Craddock
Ratings: 3.8 From 925 Users | 89 ReviewsNotice About Books Mrs Craddock
Finished Mrs. Craddock in record time, ended serenly with the central characters pronounced emotional turbulence being tamed. Not only by herself, not simply-at first glance, and maddeningly so- by her husband, but a myriad of factors, notably Miss Ley, Gerald, her neighbors, but also travel, books, nature and most importantly, time. 30 seems to mean something different here than what I am looking at-though I do study the mirror on occasion for visual signs of aging, bald patches, frown lines,If this had been the first Maugham book I'd read, I would probably have given it five stars. However, I read it after reading The Moon and Sixpence, and although Mrs Craddock was excellent, it did not match up to the perfection of The Moon and Sixpence. So three stars it is. Definitely recommend it, though!
I am a fan of Maugham and think he is underrated. This is not his best novel, but it is worth reading. Maugham's witty introduction is actually the best part, I thought. Echoes of Emma Bovary and Kate Chopin stories abound in the book. I found myself somewhat exasperated with the main character, Bertha, who is a drama queen without parallel, though she does finally improve with age.
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Free download available at Project Gutenberg.In this book, Maugham describes the English society by the end of the 19th century.Through the marriage of Bertha Ley and Edward Craddock, the author seems to approach to the masterpiece written by Gustave Flaubert, Madame Bovary.A splendid book. We never expect the way the plot develops itself wit always with an unexpected end. That is why I do love his books.5* The Razor's Edge5* Of Human Bondage4* The Painted Veil4* The Narrow Corner4* The Moon And
I found this book difficult to get into at times, but when its good, its really good. Its difficult to like either Bertha or Edward, and they are both infuriating and ridiculous, but also occasionally relatable. Its an odd book, but I love Maughams writing so it won me over.
I loved the character of Miss Ley. Otherwise, the writing was not very good here, unlike most of Maugham's work. The characters were well done, but there seemed to be a lot of uninspired padding.Kudos to Maugham for portraying his main character, Bertha Craddock, sympathetically from the very beginning. A sensitive, imaginative, intelligent girl who chooses to marry badly... I was rooting for her. Her husband turns out to be a decent, hardworking sort, but not at all interesting or interested in
This is the first early Maugham Ive read - and it was good. Ive been thoroughly enjoying this book, though can clearly see that such prolific author as Maugham was definitely got somehow repetitive in his latest works. There are quite a lot parallels you can see between Mrs Craddock (1902) and Theatre (1937). Apparently some themes were quite important for the author through all his live. The writer even put in his characters mouths the same quotes. Anyway Mrs Craddock is a fascinating piece of
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