I picked up this volume of stories because I'd heard that
W Somerset Maugham was the true master of the short story form. I've read a lot
of contemporary writers so I wanted to compare. I learned a lot from
these stories.
The first thing I learned was subtlety. These stories weren't filled with action sequences or grand plots, but instead they were filled with intent and slow moving determination. He lets the story unfold in the actions of his characters and reveals their mind through words, action and narrative. At first I have to admit that I thought these stories boring and without purpose but then I reread the first stories and realized that every word had purpose and that purpose was the action – the beautiful subtle flowing action of the stories told so well that they seemed effortless and haunting at the same time. Then I was not bored.
The second thing I learned was theme. I don't know if Maugham consciously wrote to a theme or whether it developed organically, but however he did it the theme permeated each story with symbolism in elegance. There was this one story about an island's regent and his assistant. They didn't get along and eventually that tension built into ill intent, but the scenes were decorated with contrasting imagery – chaos interrupting serenity, just like the main characters. It works so well to put the reader in the mood for what's to come. It's kind of magical when you realize that it's working and it's intentional, manipulative even.
The third thing I learned is that a story doesn't have to change the world or reveal great secrets, but that changing a single person in one significant way is enough. It's enough and sometimes more than just enough for a story – sometimes it's perfect.
- CV Rick, May 2008
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