BEFORE THE PARTY, a Short Story by Somerset Maugham

In "Before the Party," Mrs. Skinner prepares for a garden party while reflecting on her family's situation, particularly her widowed daughter Millicent. Millicent, who returned from Borneo after her husband Harold's death, reveals the truth about his alcoholism and ultimate suicide. The family grapples with the shocking revelation that Harold ...... won't reveal the ending here.

[@dianal.clausen8118]

I'm absolutely crazy over these Maugham short stories. Each one so different. And I enjoy the jazz a lot. Thank you so much for these gifts yoy bring to us all.

[@stellaburnell7947]

Me too. I read most of his short stories when I was younger, but it's hard to read now. What a gift, to find these narrated stories ! I'm going to devour them !

[@jillianaranicar-breese8689]

😅

[@sohara....]

Yes, I'm enjoying the ones that don't feature Ashenden; there's quite a bit of ugliness in those stories, in the way the spy sees other people, and women in particular: e.g. *ugly face bloated in fatigue* *grotesque* appearance Apart from the Ashenden stories, though, the stories are wonderful. 😊

[@AlgorithmEngagementEntity]

I am grateful to you for these immersions into the brilliantly written stories from another, known to me in name only, master.

[@jenford7078]

Wow! This was an amazing tale.

[@nikkodemus1296]

And well told !

[@sharimeyers292]

What an amazing story. Great comment on the complexity of family relationships and the impossible circumstances some women find themselves in when dependent on another for their “keep”. Thanks for these stories.

[@jacquetracy3194]

Thank you for a wonderful story. He was a great writer ❤

[@nct948]

expect always an unexpected denouement with these short stories! thanks for bringing them to life for our enjoyment.

[@bettysmith1280]

This technique is called paraprodoskian!!! I do this too in my writing.

[@nct948]

@@bettysmith1280 I have to admit that I find it somewhat tiresome after a few stories.

[@Shineon83]

EXCELLENT content….More Maugham, please!! ❤

[@stephengroton1434]

Great story. Modern moral conundrum.

[@Shineon83]

….The wonderful jazz….and the even more wonderful Mr. Somerset Maugham….

[@KathaDalton]

23:23

[@maureenbrophy7852]

Excellent

[@EGChurchofChrist]

Authors of that time often paint beautiful pictures with words😊

[@junespence7546]

Excellent!

[@kauffrau6764]

A captivating story filled with vivid characters.

[@girlwheels]

Damn, Millicent. Berserker. I love that the story ends before we find out what they will do.

[@suebehr507]

Good story!

[@horsedogdognotebook9295]

Good for Milicent!

[@ruthojen]

Sigh of relief, the sun set. Such a social straight jacket

[@mikailmamed3738]

Absolutely fabulous! Never read it before!

[@fiddlersthree8463]

Love the accompanying art work!!

[@juliewarren2118]

Can't say that I like the narration. Like a race to get to the end. A bit robotic too.

[@antheairenedevilliers1657]

AI?

[@njmccormackgmail]

It's AI. You change the speed in configurations.

[@luannschomel2642]

Just a question... is this story read by A-I ? It seems a bit dry... great story though 😊

[@faridasarwat6523]

No, no AI ! AI hacks up sentences !

[@leslieblair9834]

I'd say so

[@bewareofpigeons]

Yes, very strange voice and rather offputting - all the same speed and prosody.

[@VickersDoorter]

Emphasis and intonation are all over the place.

[@artandminisbyvilma8116]

And the weird loud words out of no where.

[@mattneillninasmom]

Having been in a similar situation, I understand her reaction.

[@goldkhw]

Where have you found all the beautiful pictures with each video? I would love to study every one of them. Who is the artist?

[@Sun18Jul]

Probably DALL-E

[@njmccormackgmail]

Definitely AI, like the voice.

[@Bbergster]

Wish I was drinking in Borneo! Great idea.

[@muiresuilgorm3452]

It sounds awful.

[@Bbergster]

@@muiresuilgorm3452 your already halfway there…. 🧚🏽‍♂️ you should definitely go.

[@taniavorster6503]

I left because I would have done the same if I had the chance - know exactly how it feels 👽👽👽

[@ginagabriel2613]

🙏🙏🙏👏👏💕

[@kellym.9453]

🎉😊

[@dqvu5591]

This is your own voice?

[@colleenm6973]

Seems it might be AI because some of the word pronunciations are off: 🏹 bow and bow(bough); wound(ed) in fight and wound as in opposite wind the rope around the buoy. Also, some punctuation just seems to be missed. Am very open to correction.

[@njmccormackgmail]

@@colleenm6973 You are correct, read with the hyphens,misprints, punctuation and lack of context of AI.

[@mitz2368]

Those AI made pictures are scary, everyone looks the same, women, men, cildren. The facial features, 😱

[@artandminisbyvilma8116]

Yeah, not drawn by a human. I find them creepy.

[@antheairenedevilliers1657]

I fully agree with you. They are somewhat creepy 😮

[@njmccormackgmail]

"All people are interchangeable"

[@makkapakka3265]

Families eh?

[@earthcat]

The little girl in the pic has a black eye

[@dianal.clausen8118]

Well maybe, but I think it's rather an illustrator's attempt to show contrast from the brightness on the opposite side of the room. But, you're giving us, aren't you. 😊

[@dianal.clausen8118]

Correction above: JIVING not giving

[@rheinhartsilvento2576]

​@@dianal.clausen8118 The illustrations are also AI I think. Lol.