tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1103812558425454904.post1851667614848345314..comments2023-06-18T05:44:02.991-04:00Comments on My Maugham Collection: Review of W. Somerset Maugham & The Quest for Freedom by Robert Lorin CalderUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1103812558425454904.post-24318364042147084272015-01-30T08:03:09.652-05:002015-01-30T08:03:09.652-05:00Ignorance is indeed a musical bliss. I am happy to...Ignorance is indeed a musical bliss. I am happy to be able to enjoy it, too. <br /><br />You won't miss anything special if you don't look at The Critical Heritage. On the other hand, it's a lot of fun. As a research tool, it's a five star book. But why one should want to study Maugham's critical reception instead Maugham's own works, this I don't know. As a source of Alexanderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16093061780494131162noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1103812558425454904.post-54029674380211915342015-01-30T06:58:59.912-05:002015-01-30T06:58:59.912-05:00As for music, I am able to enjoy it with the bliss...As for music, I am able to enjoy it with the bliss of the ignorant. I smile because I never dared confess that Mahler bores me... <br /><br />I am going to have a look at the Critical Heritage. I only read it here and there when I search for something specific.<br /><br />Well, 16 it is. You have any idea how to commemorate it?My Maugham Collectionhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16001690360958605423noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1103812558425454904.post-74354002803719346472015-01-30T03:46:16.902-05:002015-01-30T03:46:16.902-05:00Oh, there is quite a lot to object, if one has not...Oh, there is quite a lot to object, if one has nothing better to do. It is truly shameful, for instance, to admire so much the music of Franz Liszt, the greatest charlatan of the 19th century. It's only a little less shameful to be moved by so thoroughly second-rate a composer as Tchaikovsky. And I have the temerity to find Bach, Bruckner and Mahler boring. Ardent fans of some singers (HotterAlexanderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16093061780494131162noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1103812558425454904.post-50654452564231497522015-01-29T20:35:34.752-05:002015-01-29T20:35:34.752-05:00I've read some of your posts on music and musi...I've read some of your posts on music and musicians. What is there to object? I have in my head Wagner's Große Sonate A-dur, which I used for the video and which I don't seem to be able to get off my head. It's ringing there night and day. I guess I just have to be patient. <br /><br />Another personal question: do you like Tom Waits by any chance?<br /><br />Interesting to read My Maugham Collectionhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16001690360958605423noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1103812558425454904.post-50525027016849317862015-01-29T17:53:21.566-05:002015-01-29T17:53:21.566-05:00I have often been accused of "bad taste"...I have often been accused of "bad taste" in musical quarters, so I'm getting used to it. No eggs and tomatoes so far, but I hope I can survive them should they come.<br /><br />I make no apologies for putting Maugham right up there with anybody, Shakespeare included. It goes without saying that this is merely a personal opinion. If it must bring personal attacks as well, so be it. IAlexanderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16093061780494131162noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1103812558425454904.post-50098835582812870892015-01-29T17:10:46.862-05:002015-01-29T17:10:46.862-05:00How long since Shakespeare was recognized as a gen...How long since Shakespeare was recognized as a genius? Cervantes wasn't until early 19th century. Well, I guess we still have to wait. I am going to get eggs and tomatoes thrown at me for bring Maugham's name so close to the word "genius"! My Maugham Collectionhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16001690360958605423noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1103812558425454904.post-30969177938997843152015-01-29T17:07:58.287-05:002015-01-29T17:07:58.287-05:00I often wonder about the objection to Maugham. Is ...I often wonder about the objection to Maugham. Is it because he was "too" popular? Too rich? People give the thumbs-up when you study an obscure author that no one has heard of; it's a contribution to knowledge like a true scholar. But then you have to justify to ad nausea if you want to work on Maugham. Is he still worth studying? Which book? Why? Besides getting a strange look My Maugham Collectionhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16001690360958605423noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1103812558425454904.post-36818164455249590602015-01-29T16:55:31.596-05:002015-01-29T16:55:31.596-05:00I had so far read only a few bits of it, mostly fr...I had so far read only a few bits of it, mostly from the appendices. I had a sort of sneaky admiration for Calder as the only one among Maugham's biographers who has actually attempted a study of his works (though not all of his works, apparently). This deserves respect. I doubt Morgan, Meyers and Selina read even once Maugham's complete works, let alone studied them. <br /><br />Calder Alexanderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16093061780494131162noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1103812558425454904.post-69374906299780184662015-01-29T16:35:37.072-05:002015-01-29T16:35:37.072-05:00I have come back to it from time to time only to c...I have come back to it from time to time only to check things. I think you are going to be boiling when you reach the end of the book!<br /><br />It's "ripping" to chat about different things. It's a fun word. Can't help seeing Philip's face whenever I see the word, though I don't really have a mental image of him. My Maugham Collectionhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16001690360958605423noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1103812558425454904.post-55352523331853204232015-01-29T15:53:06.168-05:002015-01-29T15:53:06.168-05:00I have finally decided to read this book carefully...I have finally decided to read this book carefully and complete. The Preface and the "Biographical Introduction" are not promising. Mr Calder and I, it seems, are going to engage in all sorts of heated arguments...Alexanderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16093061780494131162noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1103812558425454904.post-91215815413725979062014-03-01T10:01:35.378-05:002014-03-01T10:01:35.378-05:00I agree about the photos in DM: delightful, all of...I agree about the photos in DM: delightful, all of them.<br /><br />How lucky you are to be re-reading "The Bishop's Apron". It's the only one I'm still missing. Could never find it reasonably priced. I was not impressed with "Loaves and Fishes", but I expect the novel is better (unlike "The Explorer" where I like the play more).<br /><br />Selina's Alexanderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16093061780494131162noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1103812558425454904.post-84452909662789341162014-03-01T09:00:12.557-05:002014-03-01T09:00:12.557-05:00Oh, and in one of the photos in DM it looks like a...Oh, and in one of the photos in DM it looks like a Parker Duofold that he was holding. My Maugham Collectionhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16001690360958605423noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1103812558425454904.post-10897603040255774232014-03-01T08:27:33.221-05:002014-03-01T08:27:33.221-05:00Yes, I think I saw the Daily Mail when Hastings...Yes, I think I saw the Daily Mail when Hastings' book came out, but I only browsed a few paragraphs and didn't bother to read it. I always think that if one tries to be sarcastic the first thing is to get the facts right. But what do you expect? It's the Daily Mail. The photos are great though.<br /><br />And I like the "daughters of joy;" it's unbeatable!<br /><br />It&My Maugham Collectionhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16001690360958605423noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1103812558425454904.post-73296177057658723542014-02-28T17:00:49.698-05:002014-02-28T17:00:49.698-05:00Yes, thank you for reminding me about Mr Calder...Yes, thank you for reminding me about Mr Calder's talk. I've just seen it complete, something I've meant to do for quite some time. Not entirely without interesting points, especially about his meeting Alan Searle in Monte Carlo and competing with Ted Morgan.<br /><br />I have not read this masterful anatomical analysis of "Of Human Bondage". It looks just like the type I Alexanderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16093061780494131162noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1103812558425454904.post-78799954739001545822014-02-28T12:01:27.835-05:002014-02-28T12:01:27.835-05:00Yes, I do! He mentioned it in the talk he gave in ...Yes, I do! He mentioned it in the talk he gave in a bookshop. You can watch the video here: <br />http://mymaughamcollection.blogspot.com.es/p/media_08.html#calder<br /><br />By the way, I wonder if you have read this: <br />http://mymaughamcollection.blogspot.com.es/2013/04/maughams-of-human-bondage-and-anatomy.html<br /><br />I think you would love the chapter! ;-}<br /><br />I watched a My Maugham Collectionhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16001690360958605423noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1103812558425454904.post-31640981613478065642014-02-28T11:40:09.708-05:002014-02-28T11:40:09.708-05:00The rumour has it - or at least had it some time a...The rumour has it - or at least had it some time ago - that Mr Calder is writing a new book about the movie adaptations of Maugham's works. Do you know anything about that?Alexanderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16093061780494131162noreply@blogger.com