I previously read only one book by Somerset Maugham, The Razor’s Edge. Frankly, I did not enjoy that book about two frightful people tormenting each other.
That was a long time ago, though. So, when I saw Cakes and Ale listed under books published in 1930, I thought, Why not give the guy and another chance and read it for the 1930 Club?
Another book I have already reviewed for 1930 is As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner.
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William Ashenden, a moderately successful writer, unexpectedly hears from Roy Kear, another writer. Although Kear is a perfectly pleasant fellow, Ashenden knows he wouldn’t be hearing from him unless he wanted something. But Kear doesn’t come directly to the point.
Around the same time, Ashenden receives an invitation from Mrs. Driffield, the widow of Ted Driffield, widely considered Britain’s most important late Victorian novelist. He ignores this summons as he doesn’t know Mrs. Driffield. Finally, Kear admits he wants to pick Ashenden’s brain. He is writing an authorized biography of Driffield, and Ashenden knew Driffield and his first wife, Rosie, when Ashenden was a young man. Rosie was a beautiful, vibrant force of nature who was massively unfaithful to Driffield. The second Mrs. Driffield has dragged Ted into respectability and is concerned for his legacy. She wants Kear to leave Rosie out of the biography even though Driffield’s most important work was written during their marriage.
This novel about class snobbery is also a character study of an unusual woman. Because of Rosie’s promiscuity, the novel was highly controversial in its time. I wondered whether Ted Driffield was supposed to be Thomas Hardy and found out that others had supposed that at the time, although Maugham denied it. He did admit that Kear was modeled after Horace Walpole, however.
I enjoyed this novel and am willing to give Maugham another trial. The movie of The Painted Veil that came out a few years ago was beautiful, so I may try it next.
whatmeread 
I read The Painted Veil a few years ago and really enjoyed it, but still haven’t read anything else by Maugham. Maybe I’ll try this one next.
Yeah, I wouldn’t recommend Of Human Bondage. This one was good.
I may give THIS one a try, ha ha ha. And you’d love, I believe, The Painted Veil. You’ll be surprised to see how different (and same) it is than the movie. I love the movie adaptation, and it’s not that the book is best, it’s that it’s significantly different in the moral message and the portrayal of specifically, the nuns. It’s a short and worth while read.
OK, well, I will definitely give it a try.
I’ve only read one Maugham – Human Bondage, but absolutely loved it. I’ll add this to the list!
Well, I hope you like this one even better.
I’ve never read Maugham, but this review and these comments are encouraging!
I liked this one anyway.