The Gentleman in the Parlour
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The Gentleman in the Parlour
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Narrated by:
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Philip Bird
About this listen
Exclusively from Audible
Somerset Maugham's success as a writer enabled him to indulge his adventurous love of travel, and he recorded the sights and sounds of his wide-ranging journeys with a unique urbane, wry style. The Gentleman in the Parlour is an account of the author's trip through what was then Burma and Siam, ending in Haiphong, Vietnam. Whether by river to Mandalay, on horse through the mountains and forests of the Shan States to Bangkok, or onwards by sea, Maugham's vivid descriptions bring a lost world to life.
Nearly 100 years later Somerset Maugham is still considered one of the best travel writers. The audiobook gives the listener an honest depiction of colonialist Burma. His gift with words evocatively paints beautiful descriptions of incredible landscapes and offers the audience a historical account of a world where attitudes were very different.
William Somerset Maugham was an English playwright, novelist and short story writer. He was among the most popular writers of his era and reputedly the highest paid author of the 1930s. His first novel, Liza of Lambeth, sold out in a matter of weeks, prompting Maugham to leave medicine and embark on a 65-year career as a man of letters. By 1914 he was famous, with 10 successful plays produced and 10 novels published. In 1917, he was asked by the British Secret Intelligence Service (now MI6) to undertake a special mission in Russia; an experience which would go on to inspire Ashenden, a collection of short stories about a gentlemanly spy that influenced Ian Fleming's James Bond series.
Maugham's most famous works include Of Human Bondage, a semiautobiographical novel, The Moon and Sixpence, Cakes and Ale and The Razor's Edge. His writing has inspired a string of over 35 film adaptations and has influenced many notable authors, including Anthony Burgess, George Orwell, and Gabriel Garcia Marquez.
Narrator Biography
Philip Bird has recorded dozens of titles for Audible, most recently Ron Hall & Nicholas Tomalin's The Strange Last Voyage of Donald Crowhurst and Georges Simenon's The Mahé Circle. Recent theatre credits include Labyrinth, Sunny Afternoon, The Cherry Orchard, and several plays at Shakespeare's Globe, including The Merry Wives of Windsor, As You Like It, and The Merchant of Venice.
Bird's television credits include Midsomer Murders, Emerald City, EastEnders, Casualty, Emmerdale, My Family, Heartbeat, Coronation Street, and Holby City. His films include Blessed, Imagine Me and You, and Killing Joe. His radio credits include When the Dog Dies and readings for Something Understood.
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Critic reviews
What listeners say about The Gentleman in the Parlour
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- zdenickaf
- 13-07-17
A lovely book.
A book of memories from Maugham's Eastern travels, including also several of his stories, read very nicely. Really enjoyable.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Mark
- 22-01-21
Fascinating Insight into a Bygone Age
This is a rich and satisfying travel memoir conjuring an evocative and colourful portrait of a gentleman recreationally travelling through the far east during the dying days of empire. I found the people he met to be the most interesting especially what we'd call nowadays, their 'back stories'. From encounters with devout missionaries to gin and bitters with archetypal ex -pats to seedy old acquaintances with lost dreams and opium habits, the narrater weaves effortlessly embroidered tales of long ago. The tone is occasionally mildly pompous as no doubt accurately reflects the manner of the man. I don't think Maugham is particularly fashionable these days which is a pity as he really is a master of his craft and is well worth discovering, or re-discovering.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
- Jane Meesters
- 08-08-20
Stories of early 20th C travel in the Far East
Having visited most of the countries I this book over the past few years, I found it fascinating to read the stories of an English traveller nearly 100 years ago...I love Somerset Maugham's style .
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 09-08-17
The Gentleman in the Parlour
Fascinating insight into Colonial life and the enormous travels people undertook . A time when people were more well read and well educated in the classical tradition. I enjoyed it very much. The last chapters were not as enjoyable and the ending strange.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- An amazon customer
- 23-08-22
The Gentleman in the Parlour
Is a must read for anyone interested in the human condition. Maugham is a master of his descriptions which we all at times experienced but unable to put it so eloquently in his stories. Read by Philip Bird who did a superb job. Bird’s intonation and reading pace perfect as well as having a lovely voice to listen to.
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