THE LETTER, A Short Story by Somerset Maugham

Рет қаралды 43,596

Күн бұрын

Пікірлер: 107

@novascheller5957 5 ай бұрын

Such rich descriptions… taking the time to build characters, scenes and cultural differences…. And then the unspooling of the treachery! Love being able to listen to good literature as I go about my daily chores!

@quentinlickliter4697 3 ай бұрын

More people should raise their reading level to Literature.

@tandyjen 2 ай бұрын

I agree with that, but as a retired English prof, married to another retired English prof, with centuries of literature between us, I must inform you that Maugham doesn't rank high in the canon of "English Literature" (which is a choosy sort of thing--very questionable of course). Why is Maugham regarded by many as a writer of lower quality than other known writers in English? It's his surfaces. He records so many facts along with his fiction, that it's easy for critics to view him as "dated" and "of his time," completely missing his polished storytelling genius and his brilliant insight into cultural clashes that he serves up whole, as if under glass! A magnifying glass. Maugham offers his stories to readers, hoping against hope that his readers can learn life from them. In this sense, he remains relevant, credible--and in the company of Dickens, George Eliot and Wilde.

@novascheller5957 2 ай бұрын

@@tandyjen absolutely… we just finished Of Human Bondage… it was a difficult book to listen because such strong emotions coupled with Philip’s sensitivities until the last section… Maugham’s skill conveyed all of this masterfully.

@1stDoNoPharma 2 ай бұрын

Isn't Maugham just amazing the way he creates these captivating stories?

@spooklyboo2337 5 ай бұрын

Excellent reading! My favorite Maugham story….thank you for the download!

@sheilamartin1577 Ай бұрын

I was hoping there would be further intrigue with the realization that the Chinese woman was blackmailing Hammond with his secret affair. Leslie had murdered the man who loved her.

@CarolWoodhouse-w2s 5 ай бұрын

Excellent reading of this great author. Thank you x

@casadona409 5 ай бұрын

Isn't this done with AI?

@martas9283 5 ай бұрын

It must be or the mock Chinese 'fliend' wouldn't turn into a 'fly-ant', every single time but one. Good story but horrid narration

@sanjchiro 5 ай бұрын

It's an AI reading, hence the occasional odd timing of words and emphasis the, overly correct pronunciation and the weird female voice. The slight breaks here and there give a somewhat robotic feel too. I could be wrong though!

@MM-uv6kb 5 ай бұрын

@@sanjchirosadly I think you're right. There's something artificial about his voice, and an unsettling tempo in the speech. I'll find other authentic narrators online. It's a pity.

@1stDoNoPharma Ай бұрын

@@MM-uv6kb good luck 😊

@josephbellvietnam 5 ай бұрын

This was a great movie and just loved Bette Davies playing the lead.

@marymorgan3244 5 ай бұрын

One of my very favorite!

@unclealand 3 ай бұрын

There was a rather good TV version of this story in 1981 starring Lee Remick. It's different from the fine Bette Davis version, but good stories and well written characters deserve more than one interpretation.

@ginamori4970 Ай бұрын

Better Davis real life sucked. And that's how it really feels.

@anotherblonde 5 ай бұрын

Spidery woman, weaves a needlepoint web to catch her fly, but finds herself instead caught in the unforgiving gossamer she wove.

@luzvaldes1030 5 ай бұрын

I believe THE LETTER was my introduction to Somerset many many years ago. I have since read many of his novels and short stories, but alas, there are still some I have yet to read. Hopefully they will be amongst those you upload. Thank you!

@NancyDrewe 5 ай бұрын

Such an excellent story. Thank you.

@brendabiffibaldovino8306 5 ай бұрын

Thank you very much for sharing 💙💙💙

@KimberlyPerrotis 2 ай бұрын

I’ve been enjoying this series a lot, thanks for posting it🙂

@nonosays 5 ай бұрын

How powerful to hear the original story at last!

@p.twink-da-star 5 ай бұрын

Well read. Marvelous descriptions, thanks!

@karenann5090 5 ай бұрын

I love this story. Bette Davis was perfect in the movie.

@poorthing 5 ай бұрын

There was an earlier 'The Letter' film, an early 'talkie' with the legendary Jeanne Eagels, who was posthumously nominated for an Oscar. Sadly, she died young at 39. Jeanne Eagles was made a huge star when she starred in 'Rain' in 1922 on Broadway, another story by Somerset Maugham Strangely, Herbert Marshall, who played Bettes husband in 1940 'The Letter' played the lover/victim role in the 1929 'The Letter'...! 'The Letter' was Marshall's 1st American film, he starred with Bette again in the marvelous film 'The Little Foxes', 1941. Bette is one of my favorite actresses ever, she always delivered. ❤️

@alidabaxter5849 4 ай бұрын

@@poorthingHerbert Marshall was such a good actor and he breaks your heart in both The Letter and The Little Foxes. Perfect when he's working with Bette Davis.

@poorthing 4 ай бұрын

@@alidabaxter5849 agree! He was wonderful in both. His career was so long & he never disappoints

@HotgyalB 3 ай бұрын

Truly enjoyed this story. Narrator excellent!!

@miriamsinclair1655 5 ай бұрын

Comme francophone, j’ai adoré la lecture de ce texte. Très bien prononcé ce qui en facilite la compréhension. Merci !

@MM-uv6kb 5 ай бұрын

C'est IA ma chère.

@suze6of6 5 ай бұрын

Love❤❤❤❤ these Stories🌹🌹🌹🇺🇲🇺🇲 Thank You& wonderful reading narration😁🌺👍❤️❤️

@Shineon83 5 ай бұрын

No other author could sketch a Sociopath with such relentless skill-revealing all the subtle shadings of horror - as could Maugham ….

@joline2730 4 ай бұрын

Shine: I believe Thomas Hardy surpasses even Maugham ...

@tandyjen 2 ай бұрын

Yup

@davidburkhalter3294 5 ай бұрын

I really did want to listen to this story, but having to get up to push the skip commercial button every few seconds I soon tired of the process and turned it off

@pakde8002 5 ай бұрын

I don't know what your financial situation is but if possible I really recommend KZbin premium. I cancelled it one time as I forgot how annoying the ads were but started up about two days later. The best thing imo is turning on a story then turning of the screen at bed time. Really helped with the old insomnia.

@davidburkhalter3294 5 ай бұрын

@@pakde8002 Thank You for reaching out to me. I'm old and living on a fixed income and pretty much computer illiterate. Is this KZbin premium expensive ? If I can afford it, how do I get signed up ? Thank You Dave B.

@Margi183 5 ай бұрын

Yes! Pay monthly to avoid the ads!

@davidburkhalter3294 5 ай бұрын

@@Margi183 Well thank you for agreeing with @pakde8002, but that doesn't help me find KZbin premium or tell me how much it's going to cost me.

@johng4093 4 ай бұрын

After having YT Premium for some time I can't imagine going back to being interrupted by ads. If you watch with any regularity it is really worth it, and you can try a free trial to evaluate for yourself.

@jillianstokoe4697 5 ай бұрын

Powerful story, excellent!

@AlgorithmEngagementEntity 5 ай бұрын

Wicked story well told.

@1stDoNoPharma 2 ай бұрын

I was completely surprised by the ending!! Maughm does it best.

@gabriellecunningham7196 5 ай бұрын

Splendid. Many Thanks 🌹🇦🇺

@keithrobert5117 4 ай бұрын

So not only does she corrupt her own lawyer, she wants him also to cover up the letter to her husband and still get the money off him!

@tandyjen 2 ай бұрын

The letter is to her lover, not to her husband. And now the Chinese have her husband's money, not Mrs. Mrs.

@DorothyWiggins 2 ай бұрын

Why did you tell the end of story? Mean

@tandyjen 2 ай бұрын

@@DorothyWiggins Why do you read the comments before listening to the story? Sheesh!

@MsMak12356 4 ай бұрын

Fabulous movie with Bette Davis. When I read the title of this story, I was hoping it was the idea behind the movie.

@lisahunt3389 3 ай бұрын

Excellent!! Yes, indeed, Betty Davis was perfect for the part!!

@pakde8002 5 ай бұрын

The last scene is just shocking.

@helendynes2891 5 ай бұрын

Thank you.

@marilynrowe7241 3 ай бұрын

I thoroughly enjoyed listening to the short story. Hollywood took hold and made sure Leslie paid for her sins. If you haven't seen the movie with Betty Davis and Herbert Marshall--I recommend it highly.

@tandyjen 2 ай бұрын

Really? I haven't seen the movie (yet) but if Hollywood made her pay for her sins a) I'm unsurprised and b) I think it's a travesty! Surely it was important to Maugham that his heroine got away with her crime--because that's the way of the world. Clearly, he was trying to make a point about the world not being the way it's supposed to be...

@guidofaria6721 5 ай бұрын

Really good in all senses.

@alastairstaunton7081 5 ай бұрын

Well read but what is with the occasional buzzes? Does the reader have a verbal tic? Why are these left in?

@sharonwerner2419 5 ай бұрын

Wow that was a real treat.

@alidabaxter5849 4 ай бұрын

This is a wonderful story, which I believe Maugham based on true events he heard about. Such a pity about the AI narration, but even that can't spoil it. And, like others, I thought Bette Davis was superb in the film.

@fionaabarca765 4 ай бұрын

Thankyou for posting these short stories from the great Somerset Maugham..The Colonial World long gone..Can anyone tell me who drew the beautiful illustrations

@carmelsileo6520 3 ай бұрын

I'm pretty sure they were done with AI. If you have Microsoft, you can make them yourself with the CoPilot feature. I've tried it, it's fun.

@ecm958 5 ай бұрын

Beautiful reading. Thank you.

@LiudmilaDoll 2 ай бұрын

....passion......I never heard stories like this..the story ...for sale..socked out of man finger..that afraid of woman...

@Trampas8 17 күн бұрын

Maugham is surely one the greatest.

@joline2730 4 ай бұрын

Not so short - made into a film - excellent story...

@shereesmazik5030 5 ай бұрын

Stories well told , who’s counting the length?

@maggielucas8685 Ай бұрын

This Ai voice is very popular and is used in so many stories.

@jamesross5328 5 ай бұрын

Willie is such a great writer

@macroman52 4 ай бұрын

Picky picky - in his office Joyce was not looking at his client. He was looking at his client,s husband. A lawyer’s client is not the one who may be paying the bill.

@Trampas8 5 ай бұрын

Been looking forward to this one! I hope P & O is on your list? And also The Door of Opportunity. Thankyou for all your work.

@karenbeardwilson 5 ай бұрын

Torment there - Disloyal - destruction - violation of sanctity. Lies of 1 person out of control - no remorse. Well authored the truth of capabilities of one least suspected until they saw the mask off-ghastly ugly.

@nancygorham5908 4 ай бұрын

Listening 28 June 2024

@SunnySmile-fr5yg 4 ай бұрын

Short story doesn't mean that it's short, it means that it's not a long novel. Google for yourself what a short story means!

@GaryBigelow-pr7sh 22 күн бұрын

It seems this story had a hell of a lot more commercials than the other ones I did not enjoy that part of it

@ashby4211 5 ай бұрын

Too many adverts.

@YogZab 5 ай бұрын

No adverts! 🤷🏼‍♀️

@denisemoore6134 27 күн бұрын

I don't get any, just on KZbin on my phone, no payment. Don't know why!

@beverleybrown4832 5 ай бұрын

AI reader I would say. Many errors of emphasis or pauses.

@greendahlia4807 5 ай бұрын

I was hoping it wasn’t AI 😬

@karenann5090 5 ай бұрын

@@greendahlia4807It is….

@denisemoore6134 27 күн бұрын

Because of AI.

@nesapanjalingam704 2 ай бұрын

Thank you for this 😊. So....just another tart of a mem sahib eh, putting on airs, acting all superior- typical

@emmaknight3890 5 ай бұрын

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

@roelienpostma2367 5 ай бұрын

A time when it was notmal to be a racist,

@tandyjen 2 ай бұрын

...was still a time when a non-racist writer could nevertheless teach us about racism. That's what Maugham is doing! Throw not the baby out with the bathwater.