Cakes and Ale
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Cakes and Ale
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Narrated by:
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James Saxon
About this listen
When Cakes and Ale was first published in 1930 it roused a storm of controversy, since many people imagined they recognised portraits of literary figures now no more. It is the novel for which Maugham wished to be remembered.
©2009 W. Somerset Maugham (P)2014 Audible, Inc.Listeners also enjoyed...
Great but problem with recording
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Golden Oldy
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James Saxon's narration is perfect.
I was transported to another time and lifestyles.
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Times gone past
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Excellent. Top quality writing.
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I can find nowhere else to report technical errors.
Classic Maugham
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His characters belong to onother time but their failings and strengths belong to any age.
The quality shines through.
The quality shines through.
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What did you like best about Cakes and Ale? What did you like least?
With an intriguing storyline and subtle yet clever characterisation, Cakes and Ale makes for an educational and insightful book. However, this is not for those who don't always pay attention to what they are listening to; Maugham enjoys his tangents, and they are not always brief, so near full attention is required. Otherwise a thoroughly enjoyable and rewarding audible experience.What other book might you compare Cakes and Ale to, and why?
The life of Thomas Hardy is said to have inspired much of this work, and it explores the balance between a writers fame and worth. As such some have argued that it is an attack on Hardy himself, leading to the penning of 'Gin and Bitters' as a parody of Maugham's efforts.What does James Saxon bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?
An engaging and personal narrative, with careful hints in his tone of his possibly protective presentation of some of his memories, despite his insistence otherwise. Even if you are a little taken aback at first, when you get used to his voice and rhythm, you are swept up in the story.Did Cakes and Ale inspire you to do anything?
To delve further into the Maugham canon, and to read around the authors who are supposedly the influence for this piece.Any additional comments?
An alternative name for this book is 'The Skeleton in the Cupboard', but on reflection 'Cakes and Ale' is much more appropriate in the subtle and vaguely ironic tone that it imparts to the novel as a whole.Not one to fall asleep to.
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As other reviewers have mentioned there is a small glitch with one of the chapters repeating in part - you just need to skip a couple of minutes and it carries on as normal.
Wonderful
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A lovely story, narrated extremely well about the late Victorian Edwardian eras and told in such a way you can really be transported to the eras.
Loved our Rosie, salt of the earth lady, brought to life in a real setting, as was Ashenden. Great audio book, once again by one of our greatest writers
One of Somerset Maugham's great short stories
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