The Summing UpAutobiographical and confessional, and yet not, this is one of the most highly regarded expressions of a personal credo - both a classic avowal of an author's ideas and his craft. |
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Page 11
... I am of no consequence whatever . It would have made small difference to the
universe if I had never existed . Though I may seem to write as though
significance must necessarily be attached to certain of my works , I mean only
that they are ...
... I am of no consequence whatever . It would have made small difference to the
universe if I had never existed . Though I may seem to write as though
significance must necessarily be attached to certain of my works , I mean only
that they are ...
Page 118
Though the public accepted my plays with enthusiasm , not only in England and
America , but on the Continent , critical opinion was by no means unanimous .
The more popular organs praised their wit , gaiety and theatrical effectiveness ,
but ...
Though the public accepted my plays with enthusiasm , not only in England and
America , but on the Continent , critical opinion was by no means unanimous .
The more popular organs praised their wit , gaiety and theatrical effectiveness ,
but ...
Page 215
The author seldom has the wish to give of fence and he uses what means he can
to protect his originals ; he puts the persons of his invention in different places ,
gives them another means of livelihood , situates them perhaps in a different ...
The author seldom has the wish to give of fence and he uses what means he can
to protect his originals ; he puts the persons of his invention in different places ,
gives them another means of livelihood , situates them perhaps in a different ...
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User Review - wjburton - LibraryThingOne of my favourite bedside books of all time. I wore my first copy into pieces from overuse. I don't know of another book quite like it. Read full review
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User Review - hellbent - LibraryThingThis is one of the best books I read for providing a philosophical view of life. It is a book I intend to read again. Read full review
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Common terms and phrases
able accept action actors admire appearance artist asked audience beauty believe better called cause character common complete course critic deal difficult discover drama dramatist easy effect emotion English existence experience eyes fact feeling fiction follow forced gave give given hard human ideas imagination important instinct interest Italy knew knowledge least less literature live longer look matter Maugham means mind nature never novel once passing pattern perfect perhaps persons philosophers picture play pleasure possible present produced prose reader reason seemed seen sense short sometimes sort speak story success suggested suppose taken tell theatre things thought tion told took true truth turn universe wanted whole write written wrote young
Bibliographic information
| Title | The Summing Up Volume 10 of Collected edition of the works of W. Somerset Maugham W. Somerset Maugham Works Works, William Somerset Maugham |
| Author | William Somerset Maugham |
| Edition | reprint |
| Publisher | Arno Press, 1977 |
| Original from | The Ohio State University |
| Digitized | 18 May 2018 |
| ISBN | 0405078307, 9780405078309 |
| Length | 310 pages |
| Subjects | › Fiction / Literary |
| Export Citation | BiBTeX EndNote RefMan |