The Trembling of a Leaf (Paperback)

by W. Somerset Maugham (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Short stories set in the South Pacific, including Somerset Maugham's famous story "Rain."

From the Back Cover
After working in British Intelligence during World War I, William Somerset Maugham set off to regain his health by traveling to Asia, Mexico, and the Pacific Islands. During this trip he gather materials and wrote the stories that appeared in 1921 in The Trembling of a Leaf. The six short stories and two "sketches" include the famous story "Rain"-adapted for both theater and film as Sadie Thompson-a story about the ironic consequences of obsession. Its less known companions, however, have their own merits. "Macintosh" is a taut psychological study of two officials on a remote tropic island. "The Fall of Edward Barnard" is a brief bildungsroman about what is important in life-a pre-cursor of Maugham's well known novel, The Razor's Edge. Of course love is always a subject of the tropics and Maugham's deft, ironic handling of the theme in "Red" and "Honolulu" is masterful. But it is "The Pool" that tells a poignant and tragic tale about the pitfalls for love across cultures. "I have never pretended to be anything but a story teller," Maugham once wrote. These short stories are some of his best, and among the best ever written about the exotic South Seas.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 200 pages
• Publisher: Dixon Price Publishing; 1st Dixon-Price Pub., Ed edition (September 15, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1929516231
• ISBN-13: 978-1929516230
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #710,849 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great short stories for Somerset Maugham lovers!, July 3, 1998

By	Kathrin Dornbusch "Kati" (Brokdorf) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: The Trembling of a Leaf (Tales of the Pacific) (Mass Market Paperback)

This book consists of 8 short stories, many of them playing in the South Sea Islands. After reading this book you will want to go there and enjoy the beauty of life. Beautifully written, a pure pleasure to read!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars By a veteran of British intelligence during World War I, November 6, 2002

By	Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

Somerset Maugham was a veteran of British intelligence during World War I, an experience that was to influence his views of the world in subsequent years as well as his writing. The Trembling of a Leaf is a compilation of six short stories and two sketches by Maugham, including his famous story "Rain," an ironic look at the dark consequences and of being too fixated on the object of your affections, -- which is perhaps better known by its film and theater adaptation as "Sadie Thompson." Romance, the cruel forces of reality, and a keen attention to the unforeseen color this classic anthology showcasing Somerset Maugham's literary genius.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars The trembling of a leaf, January 21, 2008

By	maria pazos "maripaz" (mountain view, ca United States) - See all my reviews

I am a big fan of Sumerset Maugham. The problem with this particular book (and it does not happen in any other I have read/bought) is that it is full of typos!

There are repeated phrases; using form instead of from; too instead of to.. etc. The amount of errors is unprecedented and I wonder is this some sort of "off brand" reprint??

I would suggest looking for a different maker for these stories. It must be out there.