SANATORIUM, an Ashenden Recovery Story by Somerset Maugham

W. Somerset Maugham's story centers on Ashenden, a man who is recovering from tuberculosis at a sanatorium in the north of Scotland. During his stay, he meets various patients, including the long-term resident Mr. McLeod and the pretty Miss Bishop. Ashenden observes the dynamics and struggles of the patients, including McLeod's rivalry with Campbell and Templeton's romantic pursuit of Miss Bishop. Despite the challenges and underlying fear of death, the patients form complex relationships, revealing their resilience and humanity.

[@arthuroldale-ki2ev]

I am an old pipe smoker, been smoking a pipe for 60 years, I have an old meerschaum pipe that one bowl full of English mixture tobacco, lasts about the same time as one of your splendid Somerset Maugham short story`s, what a lucky old man, I am.

[@jeaneslick4316]

Enjoying a pipe and a good story, life is good. Enjoy!

[@ruth_southernstar]

You are indeed, Sir x

[@brunovanhove1832]

Peterson, actually, my second in the last 40 years! Gave my old one to a prisoner ????, a very impulsive decision I may say!!!, but also compassionate!, seemed appropriate to do at the time !! I regretted it the moment I left that island !! The first thing I did when I landed, got in a cab,and straight to my tobacco shop, So indeed , for hot summer nights, or long winters, after several relationships, my pipe is still my best companion, she's never angry or cross at me, always glad with my attention, haha , although I misplace her sometimes, and how a big house, can become a labyrinth, when you have to look for something !! I wish you many years of enjoyment!

[@izzymarsden3579]

A lucky man and a lovely man 💕

[@ruth_southernstar]

@@izzymarsden3579 most definitely x

[@gerrybailey447]

Fantastic being able to listen to these brilliant stories, having been an avid reader for more than half a century and my eyesight not being what it once was it gives me such pleasure to lay back, eyes closed and listen to these wonderful stories.

[@miapdx503]

I began reading when I was four. At ten, my favorite authors were Daphne Demaurier and Maugham. I remembered this by the first few lines. I'm in my 60s. 🌹

[@ruth_southernstar]

Good stories we have enjoyed never forget about us! X

[@judyfoster9266]

One of my most favorite books is "Rebecca." I'm 75 and a reader for seventy years.

[@stellamariayates3776]

Same here! My two favourite authors whose stories are so captivating!

[@juneconnor872]

I saw this in a b/w stting. Jean Simmons and Michael Rennie starred in it. Great storyteller is Maugham.

[@neilstephen6761]

Thank you for sharing these wonderful stories

[@joycarmichael1476]

Wonderful and inspiring, thank you. Somerset Maugham is a treat.

[@kathywillson7491]

Really enjoyed this story Thank You 😮

[@user-iw8mg4sg4l]

Great story of intricate heroes. You never know what the twist of narration will be. It is S.M., the greatest writer of English heritage.

[@JanetElson]

I saw this with Jean Simmons and Michael Rennie.

[@altacrawford5116]

Wow...thank you for this. Read some Maugham in College, remembered now at 76 that I had liked what I had read, but now that I have hopefully matured abit more, I am so grateful for the Maugham's you have brought back into my life. Thank you!

[@ruth_southernstar]

I am grateful for this, too. X

[@KarenBryant-qv9nm]

Thank you.

[@andrewmatthew8833]

This story moved me very much. Read it many times and now thoroughly enjoyed the reading too.

[@greatdaibutsu]

The jazz introduction is enticing. 3:13

[@DJKSB58]

Totally agree It starts up again at 59:37

[@danjsy]

Thank you ! The whole Ashenden collection are some of the best spy/intelligence stories of all, how i wish he'd written more. If the narration and music are AI then we have a golden future of content ahead !

[@janebrown7231]

Ai narration has certainly been making strides in the last few years! This English voice (with the odd Australian vowel) is pleasant to listen to, and although the meaning is lost in quite a few phrases, it isn't hard to work it out.

[@Chilicat1]

Maugham actually wrote more Ashenden stories but was not permitted to publish them all. The Ashenden collection is all that the government allowed to publish. And it's such a shame.

[@danjsy]

@@Chilicat1 Gosh that's a shame, i love them. Are they stuck in an archive somewhere ?

[@Chilicat1]

@@danjsy I wish they were

[@veronicacobb8691]

Thank you! ❤

[@margaretcook560]

I started my nurse training in a purpose built sanatorium . I wish that people still had the chance of experience in this sort of establishment, without the outcome of these experiences.

[@lizlambert]

People with mental illnesses need these places rather than chemical straight jackets 😊

[@JudeNance]

I believe that death is when slip away and go DANCE ON THE WIND BECAUSE LOVE NEVER DIES. ❤️

[@adrin1512]

😭😭😭😭...I hope so, I pray that my loved ones who have moved on were able to experience such a beautiful transition. Thank you for this thought, I will think of it often when reminiscing over them.🕊️🕊️

[@ruth_southernstar]

​@@adrin1512beautiful comment x

[@katiedotson704]

Love does die. But perhaps that is not a bad thing, as hate can also die. Death comes when all of our biological functions stop. Our body turns to worm food, then dust, and mingles with the trillions of other bits of stardust that float about our galaxy. We are stardust. What could be more awesome than that?

[@royhadley686]

Thank you

[@jamesross5328]

Great story

[@ruth_southernstar]

Thank you very much for sharing this story x

[@tashuys]

This reminds me so much of Thomas Mann's The Magic Mountain

[@susannaemmerich1166]

Lovely, thank you!!!🙃🙏🇿🇦

[@dianal.clausen8118]

I was am nearly the first one, merely by chance! What fun! I am so grateful to you for uploading Maugham. You are a gem, indeed. And the music 🎶🎶 is the best. Til next time, best wishes to you, Diana, Chicago

[@user-wc6rm3gf3l]

Hi Diana, listening and loving Somerset Maugham here in England. Aren't these stories wonderful 👍

[@ruth_southernstar]

Hello both, I'm enjoying these stories from the north of England x

[@hallohallo1332]

Aw, sweet ending.

[@sueforte4947]

Excellent writer. Fan of his novels and his stories. An observer of the human condition.

[@Edo9River]

My eyes, must’ve gotten something from the air in this room, closed up with the raining season just beginning in June darkness.

[@alidabaxter5849]

I think this has more warmth and moments of humanity and love than Thomas Mann's Magic Mountain. Many of Maugham's short stories were filmed, including this one, and it's easy to see why.

[@2msvalkyrie529]

Yes. Mann 's novel was at least ten times longer & comprised of tedious philosophical discussions. He completely lacked Maugham's grasp of Human Nature. . Mann's characters - male and female - bear no resemblance to living , breathing human beings .

[@susanotway7875]

Excellent. Thanks

[@adrin1512]

What a beautifully mesmerizing story... life in a sanatorium😔

[@igordrakulovic6857]

belissima!

[@taniavorster6503]

THANK YOU MR AUTHOR - you do GOOD !!!🥰🥰

[@mbbenfield]

This is an Author that I regret never having read. I love reading. How did I miss this?!

[@zybala2]

good stuff

[@vincenthigginbotham8729]

TB was big killer back in the day

[@brendabiffibaldovino8306]

Thank you very much for sharing 💙💙💙

[@rhondamuir3595]

Does anyone know, is this AI? Because the narrator's voice is lovely, but he regularly seems to lay stress on the wrong words in the wrong places. Not criticizing, just wondering.

[@SallyShockley]

I think it is a real actor with a wonderful voice, inflection, emotion. Very nice to listen to.

[@lizlambert]

Yes it is

[@juneconnor872]

The title was "The Trio" because there were three stories portrayed in "The Trio" all good actor's. 🎉

[@HarryMarsee-fw9ot]

Finally, a Maughn story with a good ending!!!!

[@ginagabriel2613]

🙏🙏🙏👏👏💕

[@dianal.clausen8118]

You were first, Gina! What fun. Guess you appreciate Maugham, as well. Regards, Chicago 🎉

[@terinunes604]

👍💕💕💕

[@josiethornton7049]

Ai

[@deborahtrapper7421]

AI does a good job of narration at this point.

[@HarryMarsee-fw9ot]

Maughn was born in last quarter of the 19th Century (circa 1875) and curse words such as the vile GD weren't allowed in books bsck then; so, whoever ad-libbed that vile word in should be called out for it!

[@DoreenFidler-ez1bj]

Mo