THE FACTS OF LIFE, Somerset Maugham

[@mataform]

So good to hear stories from a master author like Maugham. Such a relief to hear of another world and time and so wonderfully well written. I feel he actually understands all the humans in his tales good and bad. No one is an out and out rotter the way he presents them. I know his own marriage was very unhappy.

[@streaming5332]

That's because he was gay.

[@govindram6557-gw1ry]

One of the funniest stories I have ever read. I can't keep away from laughing while I heard it recited. True it is always better to be lucky than rich or clever.

[@GeorgeNeofotistos]

I love this story. I've listened to it twice. The narration made me feel like I was there listening at a table close to theirs. Although not the same everyone has stories of that golden age between 16 17 and 21 22 where some kids of adventure happens that they never forget good for you Nikki. If your wise this will also teach you to have fun but be cautious.

[@ElaineScattergood]

❤😂😂 😢😢😢q pop

[@अस्मिरीति]

Another very enjoyable story. Especially the part leading to the ending. Having never gambled I almost experienced the tension & exhilaration of the white and red tiles moving , the wins and losses walking as Nicky's shadow in that place!

[@stellaburnell7947]

One of my favourite Maugham stories ! So good to find it here !

[@fr57ujf]

Maugham's writing is so euphonic and the narration so good that listening to this story was as effortless as strolling downhilll. I feel empathy for the father. His advice was sound. Nicki was lucky all around, and luck is a fickle thing. He'll have to learn that the hard way.

[@harbinger2838]

Great story by the maestro. I expected a different outcome but this one is pleasing.

[@brendabiffibaldovino8306]

Thank you very much for sharing :) much appreciated ❤❤❤

[@ricardo53100]

This is a great story. If I would have been the lucky boy who had underwent these escapades my father would have laughed his ass off, my mother would have not approved and my grandmother would have been in deep shock. LOL !

[@marydeewright3576]

I was so worried the young man would come to grief.. what a joyous relief,very good story indeed

[@novascheller5957]

Great suspense!

[@karenbeardwilson]

Greatly authored. Enjoyed to the end.

[@Riklott1111]

Excellent!

[@terinunes604]

Thank you for these helping me through some crazy days nights

[@8.5gc-liber]

Love the story. My eldest son is named Nicky, Nicholas. Not after St Nicholas but from this story. My son is also lucky. 🍀

[@geraldinetaeckens5873]

Great narration. Love these stories. This is truly the facts of life big smile. 44:22

[@Chisel55]

Hv never heard a story where I listen to every word so intently n told so well. Waiting for the nx one.

[@richardrosebealprestonjohn3144]

A delightful story!

[@streaming5332]

I read all his stories years ago.. if there was utube then I could have enjoyed the narration.

[@EGChurchofChrist]

Great author easy to read. Opposite of another great author of that period Henry James great plots but hard to read.

[@philomena3529]

My heart was in my mouth until you read that he got home safely😂

[@maureenball6733]

Me, too!

[@kauffrau6764]

Yes. Quite suspenseful!

[@sumazdar]

Dziękuję

[@maureenball6733]

Terrifying to watch an innocent being sucked in.

[@keithrobert5117]

But he may not be lucky, it could have been a sort of rite of passage. And the lawyers advice is stupid. He should know exceptions do not prove rules. The father was right.

[@jaqiharrison1984]

The 'reader' slipped up on quite a few words; fortunately, the author is so outstanding, the narration is still a pleasure to listen to.

[@marysteven6347]

Oh, I was telling myself I had always mispronounced quite a few words.

[@janetbaker1945]

@@marysteven6347 It wasn't mispronunciation that I noticed, but a misunderstanding about where to put emphasis in the sentence. Quite surprising. I considered for a moment whether it might possibly be an AI reader.

[@joeharoutunian1805]

Luck vs. clever and rich. Interesting

[@bl4531]

That's such a great story 😂😂

[@feralbluee]

slight spoiler!! i was on tenter hooks at the end. whew!

[@rogerk2049]

The Boy was damn lucky!😮

[@avicennitegh1377]

The yaks and the fishing boats... on the water...porters with berries on their heads. lol

[@csj9619]

At around the 28:00 mark, my guess is she's gonna rob him.

[@jeremypearson6852]

Sometimes, fatherly advice can be very useful.

[@vicentejouclas2518]

Valeu! Quel chose!

[@peterkingsley8736]

Being born clever or rich is sheer luck too

[@kevinjamesparr552]

When a woman asked to be taken to dinner and she is married to another man say NO

[@ginagabriel2613]

🙏🙏🙏🙏💕

[@kathleenellenford4816]

❣️👏🏻

[@kellym.9453]

😊👍

[@claradenev]

🥰

[@helenwheels3341]

Knew it😅

[@joannekaiser1380]

I enjoyed the story very much. The quality of the narration took something away from the story. Sometimes it sounded like a real person lacking the ability to read without emotion or emotion at the wrong time. Other times it sounded like AI. It’s too bad real actors aren’t given the opportunity to be paid to read. I guess it all boils down to cost. Keep costs down, and quality is out the window.

[@bb2021]

Reading well is such a great skill. This is one of the betters ones I have heard - in a limited way. But yes, so sad that this sort of thing is probably going to take over. Bit like London black cabs and Uber I suppose. Sad.

[@michaelblankenau6598]

I think the quality was excellent . If it was AI , and the fact that one can’t even be sure of that one way or the other , means it’s not worth quibbling about .

[@bb2021]

@@michaelblankenau6598 It's AI. And worth saying so because this metered monotone is not how we speak. Not to mention the out of work actors and narrators. Nevertheless, it's reasonable and you get the bones of the stories. Maybe help to keep the stories known?

[@feralbluee]

it’s good, but still a robot voice. it does have the ability to use phrases correctly, it is still rather paced with the same rhythm.

[@2msvalkyrie529]

True . Nothing replaces the pleasure of reading Maugham 's delightful prose but for those who prefer listening it's not TOO bad. Or , at least ,better than nothing And it's free....

[@rl3293]

It's fine

[@lizlambert]

Bad bad habits - not to be recommended

[@janieromer2907]

Who is the narrator? Man or machine?

[@dianapeek6936]

Dreadful narration, boring monosyllabic and without any feeling. Didn't enjoy it at all. It was more like a fairtale, not to be taken seriously at all.

[@stellaburnell7947]

It seems to be AI generated .

[@michaelblankenau6598]

@@dianapeek6936 Your opinion seems to be very much in the minority . That should tell you something .

[@VickersDoorter]

@@dianapeek6936Agreed. It’s a flat, lifeless AI reader.

[@LulasSong]

Al. the beggars...

He was quietly gay😂😂😂

[@MEddy49]

Qz😅