While he was thinking of making a film adaptation of the razors edge, john byrum gave a copy of the novel to his friend, bill murray. Those who look to him for a colorful, romantic story will find this slowpaced at the start. Somerset maugham and published in 1944, the story is set between wwi and wwii and follows a young american maugham calls larry darrell as he embarks on a spiritual. Not everyone, sadly, will feel its magic the same way i do. Buy the razors edge book online at low prices in india the. John byrum directed the film, which was cowritten by murray and byrum. Somerset maugham and published in 1944, the story is set between wwi and wwii and follows a young. Theresa russell, catherine hicks, denholm elliott, brian doylemurray and james keach also star in the film. The razors edge as a film can only give us a big glimpse of what larry learns in the himalayas.
He also becomes interested in the journey of larry, a american who is on a quest to discover his meaning in life and comes upon a religious awakening. The razors edge is a pleasant journey in the company of interesting people. There is a definite similarity between the maturins and the buchanans as well. Somerset maugham and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Its epigraph reads, the sharp edge of a razor is difficult to pass overthus the wise say the path to salvation is hard, taken from a verse in the kathaupanishad. Somerset maugham countryunited states languageenglish publisherdoubleday, doran publication date 1944 media typeprint pages314 isbn1400034205 oclc53054407 dewey decimal 8. However, the current kindle edition is littered with small typographical or ocrbased errors that can detract from the text, and as such id suggest getting a paper copy. The novel, for all its flaws, spends more time trying to help us see how larrys worldview has changed. Somerset maugham published the razors edge in 1944 as an account, he claimed, of his association with an extraordinary american man who had come back from world war i with doubts about himself and the meaning of life. John byrum directed the film, which was cowritten by murray and byrum this marked murrays first starring role in a dramatic film. The razors edge is a classic novel that has inspired everyone from steve martin to, well, bill murray. An adventuresome young man goes off to find himself and loses his socialite fiancee in the process.
Book fine, dust jacket with only slight expert restoration to spine ends and minor rubbing to edges. The distributed proofreaders canada ebook of the razors edge. Guy hague some people think guy hague was the real life role model for larry darrell. There are none of the jarring grammar or punctuation gaffes included in most of todays selfpublished books, although some of the english usage is archaic and obviously british. Written by john byrum and bill murray, based upon the novel of the same name by w. Set in chicago, paris, and india in the 1920s and 30s, it involves characters.
It is a subtler pleasure, a trip more akin to touring the blue roads of the american countryside than that superhighway journey. Find books like the razors edge from the worlds largest community of readers. Pursuing enlightenment through eastern philosophy and eschewing materialism was something new to. The razors edge follows the spiritual and physical journey of larry darrell, a sensitive, intelligent young man who refuses to conform to the prevailing social norms of postworld war i america. Kostis influence encourages larry to look toward things spiritual for his answers rather than in books. I first read this book when i was a child of thirteen. The strategy of the united states in its war with radical islam is in a state of crisis. I especially like the way he steadfastly refuses to bow to societal pressure. Iyer suggested that the razors edge, about a young american who like gilbert. Though gatsby grabbed me faster than razors edge, i think that as i continue to think about them both, razors edge will ultimately stand out in my.
The progress of this spiritual odyssey involves him with some of maugham s most brillant characters his fiancee isabel, whose choice between love and wealth have lifelong repercussions. In near fine condition with a touch of rubbing and toning to the spine in a very good rare original slipcase. Digital daggers the razors edge official lyric video. Jan 26, 2011 larry darrell is a young american in search of the absolute.
It was hard for me to believe that god thought much of a man who tried to wangle salvation by fulsome flattery. The idea is attributed to english franciscan friar william of ockham c. Nov 01, 2001 the razors edge tells the story of an american who, having prepared himself by acquiring a deep tan and donning indian garb, visits the guru shri ganesha and at his hands has an ecstatic spiritual experience, an experience of the same order as the mystics have had all over the world through all the centuries. Books about westerners seeking enlightenment in india seem to be everywhere. All are among the most elite operatives ever produced by any government or species. The progress of this spiritual odyssey involves him with some of maugham s most brillant characters his fiancee isabel, whose choice between love and wealth have lifelong repercussions, and elliot templeton, her uncle, a classic expatriate american snob. A classic story by a master, the razors edge is so wellwritten that the reader glides through the story easily. This book challenges the cultural ideals of the 1940s. From the first time larry is introduced, he is clearly not like others, an impression that is confirmed by his.
Its ironic that somerset maugham wrote the razors edge, a primer for wouldbe bohos, and yet its simple, direct style and originality should have earned it a high place in literature long ago. The progress of this spiritual odyssey involves him with some of maughams most brillant characters his fiancee isabel, whose choice between love and wealth have lifelong repercussions, and elliot templeton, her uncle, a classic. Others are hardeyed assassins, removing threats from the shadows. The best novel ive read since joining goodreads might be the razors edge, the. Diplomats that seek to prevent violence with words. Razor edge book of sharpening razor edge systems inc. Some of the scenes are very good, especially the uncles deathbed farewell and murrays first attempts to sober up russell.
The razors edge this book is a classic and should be on the bookshelf of every thinking person who questions. The razors edge is a 1984 romantic drama film about an american pilot traumatized by his experiences in world war i, who sets off in search of some transcendent meaning in his life directed by john byrum. His birthplace, a halftimbered structure on henley street, is a magnificent study of period architecture and design, the interiors. Full text of the razors edge, a novel internet archive. The razors edge is a drama film starring bill murray. Somerset maugham, first published by doubleday doran in the united states in 1944, relates the experiences of a world war i pilot, larry darrell, who chooses to embrace a countercultural lifestyle as a way of dealing with his ptsd, though the syndrome is of course not identified as such in the book. In fact, with the razors edge, acdc sets a new record for the longest career without a single new idea. The novel is concerned in large part with the search for the meaning of life and with the dichotomy between materialism and spirituality. Somerset maugham, the razors edge, 1943 we didnt think much in the air corps of a fellow who wangled a cushy job out of his c.
Goodreads members who liked the razor s edge also liked. Some of the scenes are very good, especially the uncle s deathbed farewell and murray s first attempts to sober up russell. It also shows us more of his impact on the world outside of his friends. The razors edge was maughams third attempt at writing a book with the exact same plot even down to having characters with the same name. Goodreads members who liked the razors edge also liked.
Set in chicago, paris, and india in the 1920s and 30s, it involves characters from sharply different worlds. I feel like this book isnt read as much as gatsby but in some ways it may be even more important then gatsby. Official lyric video for the razors edge by digital daggers from the album close your eyes available june 11th 20. Byrum got a phone call the next morning at 4 oclock from murray saying, this is larry. Jul 04, 20 official lyric video for the razors edge by digital daggers from the album close your eyes available june 11th 20. This study guide consists of approximately 58 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of the razors edge. Find books like the razor s edge from the worlds largest community of readers. The razor s edge follows the spiritual and physical journey of larry darrell, a sensitive, intelligent young man who refuses to conform to the prevailing social norms of postworld war i america.
One of the most challenging books somerset maughan has given us. With tyrone power, gene tierney, john payne, anne baxter. World war, 19141918, fiction, veterans, upper class, travel. It tells the story of larry darrell, an american pilot traumatized by his experiences in world war i, who sets off in search of some transcendent meaning in his life. For in larry dornell he has drawn a character symbolic or many we shall meet in the. Larry darrell is an incredibly finely drawn character.
A final thought the razors edge was remade in 1984. Somerset maugham, published in 1944 the novel is concerned in large part with the search for the meaning of life and with the dichotomy between materialism and spirituality. Siddhartha 1922, by herman hesse, is about a young mans search for enlightenment in ancient india. Its 14 chapters cover topics like how to choose a knife, sharpening theories and applications, steeling, using a hone and much, much more.
Published four months before the first english edition and simultaneously with the signed limited edition of 750 copies stott 50. Somerset maugham, was published in london and new york in 1944. One of the best books of somerset maugham i have read. The razor s edge is a classic novel that has inspired everyone from steve martin to, well, bill murray. Brian hutzell the razors edge definitely reminded me of gatsby because of the first person narrator, the affluence of the characters, and the time period. Somerset maugham, the razor s edge, 1943 we didnt think much in the air corps of a fellow who wangled a cushy job out of his c. Its epigraph reads, the sharp edge of a razor is difficult to pass over. Its not a fastlane zoom like less than zero, in a car full of noisy meretricious mercenary monkeyboys. Our technology is used in markets ranging from the sportsman and chef. The razor s edge is somerset maugham s masterpiece, although some would give that honor to of human bondage.
Somerset maugham this study guide consists of approximately 58 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of the razor s edge. The progress of this spiritual odyssey involves him with some of maugham s most brillant characters his fiancee isabel, whose choice between love and wealth have lifelong repercussions, and elliot templeton, her uncle, a classic. Like the razors edge, it discusses indian religion but in a less explicit, more allusive way. The path is difficult to cross like the sharpened edge of the razor knife, so say the wise. May 04, 2014 the razors edge is a frustrating and fascinating film from 1946. But when he returns 10 years later, she will stop at nothing to get him back, even though she is already married.
The sharp edge of a razor is difficult to pass over. While he was thinking of making a film adaptation of the razor s edge, john byrum gave a copy of the novel to his friend, bill murray. If you like the razors edge you might like similar books of human bondage, a moveable feast, the snows of kilimanjaro and other stories, the moon and. The razors edge tells the story of an american who, having prepared himself by acquiring a deep tan and donning indian garb, visits the guru shri ganesha and at his hands has an ecstatic spiritual experience, an experience of the same order as the mystics have had all over the world through all the centuries. Buy the razors edge vintage classics by maugham, w. Larry darrell is a young american in search of the absolute. The distributed proofreaders canada ebook of the razors. The global strategic framework is in much better shape than the tactical situation in the iraq theater of operations but this is of only limited comfort to washington because massive tactical failure in iraq could lead to strategic collapse. Of all the novels and books of fiction i have ever read the razors edge is the one that had the most profound effect on me personally.
There was a centretown bookshop of irregular modern architectural design right at the hub of the nearby city my books like. The 145 page book is crammed with photos, illustrations and cutting edge secrets you wont find anywhere else. Members of the special tactics and reconnaissance branch of the citadel council. It contains descriptions of mystical philosophy and experience that are similar to but more convincingly presented than those of larry in the razors. I feel like this book isnt read as much as gatsby but in some ways it may be. A classic story by a master, the razor s edge is so wellwritten that the reader glides through the story easily. Instead of marrying a rich, pretty chicago girl, he goes to paris searching for answers to questions about man, god and the meaning of life. Youll get answers to the most asked sharpening questions. The razors edge is one of those special books that strikes a chord making it so memorable, so impressive, so fundamentally inspiring that reading it once is never enough. The razors edge is somerset maughams masterpiece, although some would give that honor to of human bondage. The progress of this spiritual odyssey involves him with some of maughams most brillant characters his fiancee isabel, whose choice between love and wealth have lifelong repercussions, and elliot templeton, her uncle, a classic expatriate american snob. If you are a seller for this product, would you like to suggest updates through seller support.
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