Author:W. Somerset Maugham
This final classic collection of stories reveals Somerset Maugham's unique talent for exposing and exploring the bitter realities of human relationships. Brilliant tales of love, infidelity, passion and prejudice, the stories range from 'The Lotus Eater' in which a man has a vision of a life of bliss in the Mediterranean, to the astringent tales of 'The Outstation' and 'The Back of Beyond' in Malaya and South East Asia. Largely set in favourite Maugham country, this colourful collection brilliantly evokes the numbered days of the British Empire.
The short story was Maugham's true métier, and some of the stories he wrote are among the best in the language
—— Anthony BurgessOne of my favourite writers
—— Gabriel Garcia MarquezShe's a genius, genuinely modern in the heroic, glorious sense
—— Alain de BottonOne of the most gifted writers of her generation
—— Scotsman[James] is the most intelligent man of his generation
—— T. S. EliotThe Turn of the Screw is the most hopelessly evil story that we have ever read in any literature, ancient or modern
—— IndependentWe are afraid of something unnamed, of something, perhaps, in ourselves... Henry James...can still make us afraid of the dark
—— Virginia WoolfDazzling ...These narrative snapshots are skilfully framed and in-focus, the language forthright and fresh
—— Time OutThis short story collection gives those new to her oeuvre a chance to delve into gems from her past...precociously vibrant
—— Melissa McClements , Financial TimesAll the elements of Welsh's best work remain in tact here: the brilliant imagination, the phonetically-transcribed Scots dialect, the humour, the gritty realism
—— Woman's WayWhat's striking about these early stories is that the thicker Welsh was steeped in the primordial goo of his Edinburgh Scots phonetics, the better the storytelling got
—— Alexander Linklater , ObserverAs you would expect, the stories in this collection involve a certain amount of cultural tourism to the lower depths, undertaken with black humour... Welsh's relish for degradation covers up a strong sentimental streak
—— Victor Sebestyen , Sunday TimesWelsh's transcription of Scots dialect is brilliant... Welsh also has a fabulous sense of the absurd... The overall vibe of these stories is dark and grim. And fierily, fiercely funny
—— Brandon Robshaw , Independent on SundayA sparkling and adventurous writer
—— Dennis Potter