W. Somerset Maugham:
Behind him lie such classics as Of Human Bondage and On A Chinese Screen; his hand has been felt strongly on the contemporary theatre, and few writers exert a deeper impress on current literature. He is the dean of living novelists; the clarity of his style, the perfection of his form, the subtlety of his thought, veiled thinly behind a worldly cynicism, have made him an international figure.
Up at the Villa (Vintage International)
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
53 of 54 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Short and Sublime,
By
This review is from: UP at the Villa (Paperback)
Under the rubric of "Praise for William Somerset Maugham" on the first page of "Up at the Villa," none other than the New York Times calls this book "full of psychological and dramatic potentialities." To a large extent, this comment has merit. Maugham was nothing if not a writer full of dramatic flair, economy of language, and a penetrating psychical gift that enabled him to peer deep into the inner machinations of the human soul in all of its various splendors. His "The Razor's Edge" was, in my opinion, one of the best books written in the last century. "Up at the Villa" is another beautiful work of art; it contains all of the recognizable Maugham hallmarks but displays them in a short novella. It's entirely possible to read "Up at the Villa" in a couple of hours if one is so inclined. The first thing I noticed with this book was how little time it took for the author to completely grab my attention. Within a few pages, my enthrallment with the character of Mary Panton was complete."Up at the Villa" takes place in Florence, Italy shortly before WWII breaks out. A thriving colony of British expatriates spends each day and night basking in the warmth of the climate and attending endless parties where they reinforce each other's social position. The main character is Mary Panton, a young widow drifting into her early thirties without a concrete sense of direction. There is a lot of pressure for Mary to marry again, as her ravishing beauty draws all sorts of suitors out of the woodwork. One of the men who wishes to corral Mary is Edgar Swift, a distinguished British diplomat and old family friend who now hopes to take Mary with him to a new appointment as Governor of Bengal. One of Edgar's competitors is Rowley Flint, a dissolute bloke with money to burn and a fierce reputation as a ladies man. Mary's indifference to these men is apparent from the start; she considers Edgar's proposal only because of his social position. As for Rowley, she hardly considers him at all. Mary's beauty always brings her much attention, but it also brings out her strident vanity. When Mary meets a young Austrian exile by the name of Karl Richter, her beauty causes all sorts of problems, one of which could result in a legal entanglement of scandalous proportions. There are more moral quandaries in this novella than in the entire Old Testament. Not only does Mary need to decide whom she should marry, she must deal with the emotional fallout of a personal calamity brought about by her overweening sense of self. Maugham masterfully moves the reader through the treacherous pitfalls of Mary's Florence experiences, and he does it in astonishingly few words. As I floated through the final few pages of "Up at the Villa," I remarked to myself that this prose style is the way I want to write myself: a clear, crisp style that conveys immense amounts of detail with precious few words. You won't find strings of compound verbs or unnecessary wanderings in this story. Within a few pages, you know the characters intimately, have a great sense of the surrounding atmosphere, and a profound understanding of Mary's situation. I really have no idea why this book sat around the house so long before I finally read it. Since I have read Maugham before, I knew I had no reason to think I would not appreciate the story. Now that I got off my duff and read "Up at the Villa," I urge you to do the same. If you have never read Maugham before, this is a great place to start. If you do know the joys of this extraordinary writer, spend a few hours brushing up on the wonders of this author's magnificent abilities.
14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Quick, romantic read,
By A Customer
This review is from: UP at the Villa (Paperback)
A beautiful widow in her early 30s faces a choice between marrying a older man for monetary comfort or waiting for love. When given a weekend to make the choice, she meets two men: a brash American and a down-on-his luck stranger. In a matter of hours, everything changes. Written with plenty of suspense and old fashioned romance, Up in the Villa is a quick, worthy read for anyone who dreams of being swept off his or her feet.
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Straightforward romantic thriller,
By A Customer
This review is from: UP at the Villa (Paperback)
Somerset Maugham is a great story teller. Never pretentious or obscure, Maugham is a keen observer of human and social behaviour. His grasp of what makes people tick is instinctive, accurate and insightful. In "Up At The Villa", a straightforward novella in the romantic thriller genre, he doesn't miss a beat. His caricature of the self satisfied and prideful in Edgar Swift is a hoot ! Mary Panton, the novella's heroine, is flawed as a person but redeemed by compassion and principles. The film version takes a few liberties with the nationality of Rowley (he is English in the book but American in the movie) and embellishes the plot with twists and turns but remains faithfull enough to the spirit of the novel. The casting of Kristin Scott Thomas as Mary and James Fox as Edgar is also spot on. A quick and enjoyable read. Doesn't matter whether you read the book or watch the movie first.
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