THE THREE FAT WOMEN FROM ANTIBES, a Short Story by Somerset Maugham

A humorous tale about appetite, food, and life.

[@gogogogogirl]

"Nothing impaired their good humor but the scales."

[@stellaburnell7947]

I can understand perfectly !

[@ruth_southernstar]

I loved this story. It's a simple one, but is loaded with truth and friendships. It's great to have such a fabulous narrator. Thank you, from Ruth x

[@bm-tp6ce]

P😊

[@renafielding945]

I am with you!

[@AlgorithmEngagementEntity]

Been binging your Somerset Maugham narrations. A personally undiscovered treasure. Thank you, sir.

[@AnnDroid877]

Binge . . . I'll have an eclair.

[@rachael7060]

Written like ONLY Somerset Maugham could!👏

[@MollyandSonnyboy]

He's a master storyteller!

[@deln644]

What a find! I adore Somerset Maugham ❤ Thank you. You read beautifully...

[@anngant6034]

Guy de Maupassant is the master of short stories. Boule de Suif is wonderful!

[@idreamtiwasbackatmanderley414]

I agree, I really enjoy his descriptions of nature and observations of human behaviors however he is also highly misanthropic.

[@AuntieSara459]

Life has such dissapointments that the least God could have denied us are calories in food plus fat upon our hips & thighs.

[@robbo828]

This is so true to human nature. As anyone who has joined a slimming group will agree. So well written and well told. Very entertaining.

[@windicold4682]

I loved how you narrated the story of these three best friends. It was so real. I imagine myself towards the end giving up and eating too!

[@robinrubendunst869]

The fattest of the women weighs my goal weight! 😂

[@maureenball6733]

Dear God, 11 and 13 stone isn't ideal, but it's not the worst! I think the jolly illustration shows 20st ladies!

[@doroparker1702]

Stone? What is a stone supposed to weigh? Ten kilos?

[@jenniferclifford4669]

​@@doroparker17027kgs I believe

[@angelafrings3440]

@@doroparker1702 A stone equals 14 lbs😊

[@carolthomas8528]

I’d say it was pretty hefty in the 1930s .

[@idid138]

​@@carolthomas8528 yep

[@rebelbecky276]

Darn it now I'm hungry. I want rolls with jam. There goes my diet.

[@MollyandSonnyboy]

I'm having a manhattan after that

[@LINDAOZAG]

The answer is to share and 1/3 is good enough Life is short---eat bread!

[@jdsteppenzyde]

Old dry sourdough tastes like soda crackers

[@idid138]

Yes, have a cheat day once in awhile, lol.

[@janjordal9451]

Fantastic story. Beautifully read

[@jasonsurrette76]

OMG a real human voice many many thanks

[@ruth_southernstar]

Yes, I agree. The human voice is so precious, and this narrator could well be the best on here

[@Madmen604]

I know eh? If they can't get robo voices right how will they get AI robots to work...?

[@ginagabriel2613]

A lot to take from this enjoyable story. Thanks. 👏👏👏👏👏💕

[@gillps5130]

Screamingly funny, lamentably recognisable and sympathetically read. Thank you.

[@robertamcmunn3642]

A beautiful story about the human spirit. Thank you.

[@wendyh2704]

Yes, 11 stones were considered heavy in the 1930's, people were much slimmer then. Mind you, there wasn't so much fast food and calorific sweet treats like wd have now. Brilliant story though, thoroughly enjoyed it. 😊

[@yiayiak8195]

Love this story, this is women at their deepest❤️

[@patriciamay6396]

I love this. Obviously it’s an old story so not politically correct, but so true to how women can be, especially those who think about their weight constantly.

[@sveng3192]

What is the.matter with you? Politically correct?

[@lauralaladarling3775]

Foodies reunited. ❤❤❤❤

[@kauffrau6764]

Engaging story and well narrated. You brought the ladies to life. I’m off to find your other narrations now. ❤

[@CSchaeken]

I read this story about 20 years ago. Then I gave away my two volumes os Maugham ‘s short stories. Regretting it year later, so I am very pleased to be able to find them on your channel! Thanks!❤️❤️

[@dianaocean3428]

Wonderful surprise! Merci beaucoup! 🙏❤🏝

[@elaineduncanson1474]

I had considered parting with my ‘Complete Works’ but hearing these stories the slipcased two volume set retains it place on the shelf. Thank you. Now I remember why I enjoyed this author.

[@JoanKentBible]

Thank you so much for these uploads. Somerset Maugham's stories are a real treat.

[@earthrooster1969]

Oh! Loved it! Loved the cover illustration ❤😍

[@jindandy7826]

Makes me smile...

[@nessuno9945]

God! What I wouldn't give for a chocolate eclair right now!😮

[@arlenehutchinson9259]

😂😂😂 loved it. It is true to life. So glad they caved 💯❤️

[@Bebecat477]

I loved this story, thank you. Great narration. 😊

[@renafielding945]

The natural gift women have for deception. 😮 ❤

[@kathyflorcruz552]

The most honest line in the play. 😅

[@PollyAlice2000]

One of this wonderful authors best stories! Thank you!

[@angeladibble]

How lovely. I used to love Somerset Maughams books. I'm delighted to have come across your channel. Thank you for reading these wonderful stories.

[@AliceJones-yc1kh]

This was an interesting story. Keep them coming!

[@denisehall4818]

Arrow weighs 154 lbs. That's not obese..

[@mgpm17]

Agree!

[@toniwetteroth4261]

I think that would probably depend on her height

[@doroparker1702]

That is 75 kilos, 20 kilos more than the ideal weight. Average height for women at times of Somerset Maughan was 160cm. 50-60 kilos would be a healthy weight for a woman of this height. American fat women have 120 - 160 kilos of weight. Just to show the difference.

[@JB-3794]

We dont know their heights. If you're 5 feet tall and 154 pounds, it's the same as 5'5" at 180 pounds or 5'7" at 190. (Add 5 pounds for every inch.) That is unhealthy. It is officially obese. I am short and too fat. In my younger years, I ate much differently and was at a healthy weight. And I felt better.

[@sveng3192]

Depends on her hught. If she is 4'9", very fat!

[@annohalloran6020]

Now let’s hear The Vicious Little Queen from Nowhere. That would be his autobiography.

[@cecile862]

Delightful!!

[@suerussell497]

Delightful!

[@susanpetropoulos1039]

Human nature at its hilarious best. Perfect ending.

[@THERESAWIERSZYLO]

This was so enjoyable

[@shelleymcafee8197]

Such a great story, I loved it - and very well-read! Thank-You!! A little constructive-criticism: The ending would have been stronger and more-satisfying if the last sentence weren’t so rushed, and the music hadn’t cut-in immediately; it wasn’t clear to me that the story had actually ended, or if the music was an interlude.)

[@catsamazing338]

Excellent 👍

[@kwatness]

I like the story, though!!

[@erminiagomez2531]

And food. More food.😊. Happy 😆.happy

[@sharimeyers292]

Wonderful and fun. Thank you.

[@maryfeehan7896]

Thank you. Wonderful play.🇮🇪🙏❤️🥳✝️

[@kevinmbogo2567]

Wow!

[@maureenmcmonagle3321]

Exactly my thought at the end of this story. WOW !

[@IronEarthDesigns]

I love the image from the thumbnail. Who is the artist? Where can I get or buy a print? Is it a Botero?

[@doroparker1702]

Botero has different style. Just go to any bookshop selling postcards. They might know it.

[@Hannah-jk3dk]

It kept me laughing though I didn't understand some foods and drinks

[@joebeck1888]

This is a tad fast in the narration? It's been sped up, condensed and clipped. Such a shame as it's a marvellous story.

[@TedaR]

Try Adjusting the playback speed in settings.

[@margaretr5701]

Condensed? Yes, it seemed to end abruptly?! Speed was fine, and if too fast, can be adjusted to your preference.

[@maleneejinadasa1072]

Did the story end with "Beatrice suddenly thought she'd like a meringue" or was there something else? 🤔

[@neuralsurfer]

Yes that was the ending

[@lisak423]

I loved the ending.

[@jessicajohn1962]

The rest happens in your imagination

[@sloegenie]

Classic Maugham ending, leaves you hanging …..

[@margaretr5701]

The ending seemed too abrupt.

[@annboyd8966]

How sad 😢we can go back to our old habits, quickly!

[@patriciaarroni2142]

Come on Dan, weed your fireplace!

[@user-rd6tf5yx3m]

Life like business like the business of life aaAHH

[@amanda-clairebennett6132]

👏👏👏🙏🙏

[@Ulyanochka185]

❤

[@lesallison9047]

Thank you 😊

[@MollyandSonnyboy]

You can't beat human nature

[@Stormlucy111]

The narrator sounds like Simon Brett?? ❤❤❤

[@robinrubendunst869]

I thought like Jude Law…

[@janebrown7231]

AI narration is getting so good, but it still misses the point of a sentence quite often. Nonetheless this was very enjoyable - Somerset Maugham was so observant of human character.

[@samsum3738]

A happy ending then .

[@francislarv3012]

Common saying in the mid 20fh century : “ The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach “. Guess things are changing. Brilliant story. Thanks.

[@LINDAOZAG]

The bus driver found out I liked to cook He told me that his wife's best perfume was baked chicken!!!!!!!!!

[@kathyflorcruz552]

Hardly. The men involved with these 3 knew they'd be very well fed.

[@francislarv3012]

@@kathyflorcruz552 and fed up. Indigestion is a many unsplendored thing physically and emotionally

[@KKingdgfli]

😂

[@kellym.9453]

🙊🙉🙈

[@RosalindMartin-cw1nj]

AUNTY BESS😜😀 ... get a reader...

[@mattneillninasmom]

Until I was in my mid=forties I could eat anything I liked without gaining weight - then everything changed and I am now 225 lbs and at age 85 have shrunk from 5'2" to 4'11". I am now old, and do not give a damn what I weigh, I eat whatever I like without regret as I did in my youth = and no one cares!

[@sunflowerzelda45]

after 25 years of avoiding rich food and still not being able to lose, the perfect ending would have been the rich bread, cream etc leading them all to be as thin as the one who ate rich foods with no fear. )

[@IronEarthDesigns]

I hadn't listened to the story before my comment on the thumbnail. The personalities of the women in the thumbnail are not of the women in the story. And if you are female and wondering why you hate your body, listen to this. This is the blueprint...one of many. Hint: how many times did the word "hog" come up in the story? Alas, yet another thirty three minutes and four seconds that I can't get back. Thanks Somerset!

[@allanmcinnes4765]

Only trouble with this fatuous tale is mainly the idea that most bridge card players have a partner who understands the bidding be it Simple Acol. Its therefore preposterous that this outsider would walk away with all the loot single handed. I can only assume Mr Maughn knew nothing of the greatest partner card came ever invented .

[@katherenewedic8076]

thumbnail picture detracts from the story

[@Grace.allovertheplace]

Hi thanks for the frequent upload of amazing stories 🙏 Respectfully, Grace 🩰

[@kwatness]

I wonder if this is narrated by an actual human when at one point he says, "anteebs" and then later "anteebess". All this fake stuff, ugh.

[@christinabury9119]

Give it a few more months and those little „tells“ will be harder and harder to detect.

[@andyok3625]

And neither is correct.

[@Angela-cc1hd]

I thought the terminology was a bit odd at times😮

[@margaretr5701]

Sounded like a human narrator to me! So, either AI has enormously improved, or a slight error was made.

[@karenbrown938]

Nothing funny about the descent into gluttony.

[@Angela-cc1hd]

Slightly odd sort of story and terminology, abrupt ending🤔

[@stellaburnell7947]

Maugham was the master of the abrupt ending. It's up to you, as to what happens next .

[@margaretr5701]

I don't like the abrupt ending, but the story is entertaining.

[@user-rd6tf5yx3m]

Could any of you nincompoops explain why the main characters; expressly Frank, reacted to a newcomer not knowing their diet ritual?

[@lyndaproper1313]

I'm a nincompoop, and the answer to your question is,"No."

[@user-rd6tf5yx3m]

@@lyndaproper1313 do you have fake eyelashes

[@lyndaproper1313]

@@user-rd6tf5yx3m Yes, I do. But they belong to my dog. She really likes getting made-up for special occasions.

[@Angela-cc1hd]

​@@lyndaproper1313🤣

[@jessicajohn1962]

What a put down for women .

[@oldishandwoke-ish1181]

Why?

[@lyndaproper1313]

Maybe I'm wrong, but I think the social conventions of women have changed over the years, so I don't see this story as a put down. I think it is a truth of a former time, and the bonding in and independent spirits of these women were as real as today, even if different from today.

[@---Dana----]

Misogyny was apparently the norm. The story is utterly offensive today.

[@---Dana----]

​@@lyndaproper1313 Yes you are wrong.

[@lyndaproper1313]

@@---Dana---- Perhaps, but I'll tell you what makes me say what I did. In general, the development of social attitudes goes from pulling together a complex group of thoughts and facts into a pared down shorthand of the idea; outliers and anomalies are discarded, and subtleties fall by the wayside. First, the illustration at top is outrageous - but that's not Maugham's fault. The picture was chosen by the presenter of this video; I have seen other illustrations of the story that aren't mocking the women. Actually, I just ignored it. ("Would you care to partake of some of this?" "No thank you," was my answer.) Women of the story's era were obsessed with dieting and losing weight. It was a cultural thing, the culture those women swam through. Mass media- the development of advertising and nationally presented movies, etc.- began after WWI (1920's or so). Yes, the times were misogynistic; the images presented were conjured by men. That is what the women of those times had to deal with in some way or other. What Maugham presents, however, is a group of women whose prime loyalty and personal identity is bound up with a group of other women. He presents women who are not diffused by an orientation towards the men in their lives. Maugham was rare; this is what he takes the time to show us. (Look at other literature and media of the time.) So while the story is about misogynistic times, I don't find the story misogynistic. Please tell me why I'm wrong.

[@---Dana----]

The misogyny is palpable and sad.

[@kathyflorcruz552]

❄

[@wendywilliams3911]

Monotonous story telling , no interest or enthusiasm