tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2215553202978284468.post2184977902120544726..comments2024-02-06T16:17:25.826+00:00Comments on THE GRØNMARK BLOG: Three Somerset Maugham anthology films (Quartet, Trio and Encore), plus Dead of NightScott Gronmarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15118026157459333174noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2215553202978284468.post-12400429930006879252021-04-05T20:33:02.149+01:002021-04-05T20:33:02.149+01:00i find "Winter cruise" to be amazing rel...i find "Winter cruise" to be amazing relaxing and funny. i watched it 2 times in a raw only to see every men face gesture and acts when they were going nuts cuz of all the bla bla of the lady. I loved them all lots i soo enjoy those kind of short stories. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15063280951196508383noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2215553202978284468.post-62036477874956487792017-10-21T22:47:44.678+01:002017-10-21T22:47:44.678+01:00Agreed. Among other things, his meeting with Thes...Agreed. Among other things, his meeting with Thesiger at end of the book is memorable.Helennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2215553202978284468.post-23347831780567542322017-10-21T19:24:43.425+01:002017-10-21T19:24:43.425+01:00Maugham does appear to have been a bit of a shit -...Maugham does appear to have been a bit of a shit - particularly (unsurprisingly, perhaps) when it came to women. At least two of the episodes in the films mentioned above reek of misogyny, and Phyllis in "Of Human Bondage" is an absolute monster (if Bette Davis's portrayal in the film version is accurate). A nasty, grasping, faithless shop-girl, Phyllis ends up a syphilitic prostitute after nearly destroying the life of a club-footed young doctor who is inexplicably infatuated with her (she bleeds him dry financially and runs off with his best friend, among other things). In a memoir in 1962 Maugham launched a vicious attack on his ex-wife, the noted interior designer, Syrie. Apart from all the misogyny, he shows a fondness for rogues and a general contempt for "respectable" people - all hypocrites, apparently. On the whole, he probably deserved to get well and truly ducked. Scott Gronmarkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15118026157459333174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2215553202978284468.post-85036975145995567792017-10-21T18:51:59.657+01:002017-10-21T18:51:59.657+01:00You are spot on about Leigh Fermor's style (se...You are spot on about Leigh Fermor's style (see my response to SDG below). Greece, in particular, seems to have had this effect on British writers - Lawrence Durrell is another whose OTT prose style left me feeling distinctly queasy. Scott Gronmarkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15118026157459333174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2215553202978284468.post-77783646950426107882017-10-21T18:39:36.146+01:002017-10-21T18:39:36.146+01:00Agree 100% - Eric Newby was top-hole. I've tri...Agree 100% - Eric Newby was top-hole. I've tried reading Patrick Leigh Fermor several times, having been told what a superb stylist he was. Never got past page 10 of any of his books: I found him precious, affected and show-offy. "A Short Walk in the Hindu Kush", on the other hand, is not only brilliantly evocative - it's one of the funniest books I've ever read. Scott Gronmarkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15118026157459333174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2215553202978284468.post-15505483415190017912017-10-21T13:05:24.216+01:002017-10-21T13:05:24.216+01:00Fermor was very handsome, had a vaguely aristocrat...Fermor was very handsome, had a vaguely aristocratic background and oozed charm. Good war? He was attached to the SOE, hung around in Crete and captured Generalmajor Kreepie [why?]. Post-war he was fawned over by the Duchess of Devonshire, Nancy Mitford and Lady Diana Cooper. DSO and Knighthood. Why?<br /><br />Eric Newby, Special Boat Services and dangerous war as well, received an MC. He was a far better travel writer.<br /><br />Similar careers. One of them badly over compensated.<br /><br />I look forward to my next sighting of Dirk Bogarde poncing about in Cretan national dress in "Ill Met By Moonlight" thinking about Paddy Leigh Fermor. SDGnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2215553202978284468.post-40273948254152168772017-10-18T00:19:12.572+01:002017-10-18T00:19:12.572+01:00PLF must have had something to attract such a wide...PLF must have had something to attract such a wide group of spongées prepared to sub his lengthy bludges, and he clearly had a good war. But for all his reputation as a writer, his style is so mannered, florid and overblown that I for one have never managed to finish any of the books. Like you, I am on the Somerset Maugham team. Magnificent put-down. It would be interesting to know if it had the desired effect.ex-KCSnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2215553202978284468.post-5384306007640938272017-10-17T23:14:08.881+01:002017-10-17T23:14:08.881+01:00The serial free-loader Paddy Leigh Fermor once wan...The serial free-loader Paddy Leigh Fermor once wangled an invitation for the week-end to Maugham's home in Cap Ferrat. Having imbibed and dined lavishly Fermor repaid the hospitality of his host by loudly imitating his famous stammer. The saurian Maugham slid up behind him, tapped him on the shoulder and said " As I will still be in bed when you leave early in the morning I would like to say good-bye now" and then shuffled off to his quarters leaving behind his stunned guest.<br /><br />Fermor [or Femur as Darryl Zanuck insisted on calling him] was always described as a polyglot. However he never learnt to say "Can I have the bill, please?" in any of his many languages. Well done, Mr Maugham. Real panache!SDGnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2215553202978284468.post-55958225800469424172017-10-15T11:44:44.868+01:002017-10-15T11:44:44.868+01:00Maugham , on a visit to Penang, was unfortunate en...Maugham , on a visit to Penang, was unfortunate enough to meet some of his readers. That group was mostly comprised of rubber planters who were extremely annoyed by "Willie's" depiction of them as gin - soaked , Penang Club - based hedonists and adulterers.<br /><br />The offended group then exacted revenge. They met in that club's Mens Bar ( still extant ), debagged and ducked Maugham in the Georgetown fountain and threatened to expel any member who brought WSM into the club as a guest ever again.A.Nonymousenoreply@blogger.com