The Razor's Edge
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Summary
Editor's review
From the perspective of literary history, The Razor's Edge inherits the European tradition of the Bildungsroman, but expands the protagonist's growth from adolescent identity formation into an existential inquiry pursued in adulthood. Maugham's borrowing from Eastern philosophy, especially Indian Vedanta thought, injected new intellectual resources into Western literature. The chapters in which Larry practices and attains enlightenment in India, though colored by Orientalist imagination, genuinely reflect postwar Western intellectuals' doubt about and search for alternatives to traditional value systems.
When reading this book, pay attention to Maugham's distinctive narrative strategy: he enters the story as a first-person observer, maintaining distance while offering commentary at appropriate moments—this "Maugham tone" became his signature style. The lengthy philosophical discussions may feel daunting to some readers, but it is precisely this speculative content that gives the work its depth. This edition from Shanghai Translation Publishing House offers an accurate and fluent translation that preserves Maugham's concise, incisive style well; it rewards repeated reading.
Who it's for
A good fit for
- Readers interested in existentialist philosophy and the search for the meaning of life
- Literature lovers who enjoy group portraits of characters and social observation
- Historians seeking to understand the spiritual condition of postwar Western intellectuals
- Readers of fiction who appreciate a cool, restrained narrative style
Not a good fit for
- Readers seeking light, entertaining reading
- Readers who prefer plot-driven, fast-paced novels
Reading tips
- Read Maugham's earlier novel The Moon and Sixpence first and compare how the two works explore the themes of art and life
- Pay attention to how different characters define a "successful life," and reflect on the values behind those definitions
- Don't rush through the philosophical passages; slow down and savor them
About the publisher
Shanghai Translation Publishing House is a Chinese publisher oriented mainly toward translation and publishing. Its publications cover foreign literature, world classics and classic works, as well as social culture, folk literature and classical poetry. The database contains 2,618 titles, including Never Let Me Go, Les Misérables (2 volumes), Don Quixote (illustrated collector's edition), The Complete Comedies of Molière (4 volumes), The Complete Novels of Kafka (3 volumes), The Collected Works of Dostoevsky (9-volume set), Reason and Persons, and Oedipus Rex (Translation Classics). Its author resources include foreign writers such as Kazuo Ishiguro, Victor Hugo, Cervantes and Molière, as well as translators such as Zheng Kelu, Sun Jiameng, Li Jianwu and Zhang Kun. The publisher has brands such as "Translation Classics Selections" and "Translation Documentary," and emphasizes translated works in foreign literature and the humanities and social sciences, while also publishing bilingual dictionaries and foreign-language educational books. Public information is limited; the above is based on the book information in the database.
Contents
- 版权信息
- 译本序
- 第一章
- 第二章
- 第三章
- 第四章
- 第五章
- 第六章
- 第七章
- PART ONE
- PART TWO
- PART THREE
- PART FOUR
- PART FIVE
- PART SIX
- PART SEVEN
FAQ
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About the author
W. Somerset Maugham (1874–1965) was a British novelist, playwright and short-story writer, born in Paris. He trained in medicine and turned to writing after publishing his first novel, Liza of Lambeth, in 1897. His representative works include Of Human Bondage, The Moon and Sixpence, Cakes and Ale and The Razor's Edge, as well as a substantial body of short stories. His plain, direct style and his insight into human nature and society place his works among foreign literature and classics. Maugham excelled in both the novel and the short story; his restrained narration and penetrating observation have earned him a wide readership in Chinese, and this site holds 176 of his works.
