My Maugham Collection

Maugham Reads Cakes and Ale

Home > Blog > Maugham Reads Cakes and Ale LPIt was some years ago that I came across this recording, but unfortunately it slipped through my fingers. Thus, it felt magical when it appeared again in front of my eyes, and I was able to proudly add it to my collection: Somerset Maugham in a Reading from Cakes and Ale December 18th 1953.Though it is a recording of a short extract from Cakes and Ale, it is delightful to hear Maugham's own voice as his alter ego commenting on human folly wi…

W. Somerset Maugham's 143rd Birthday: Reading "The Three Fat Women of Antibes"

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Today is the 143rd anniversary of W. Somerset Maugham's birth. As in the past three years, I celebrate this occasion with a video. This year I have prepared one with Maugham reading his short story "The Three Fat Women of Antibes." This is the first audio recording I have of Maugham reading his stories, and it was the first time I listened to his voice. I stumbled upon this LP by a happy accident in my early collecting days and imagine the thrill! I had no LP …

W. Somerset Maugham's 142nd Birthday

Today is W. Somerset Maugham's 142nd birthday. As is the custom of the past two years, I have prepared a video to celebrate this occasion. Thanks very much for those who took the time to let me know that they liked them, which is very appreciated. This year it is something special (well, as were the other times...): we are going to listen to Maugham reading his own story, "The Happy Couple." The story can be read in MMCCL.I have to say that there is nothing like listening to Maugh…

A Distinguished Author Reading From His Works - W. Somerset Maugham

A Distinguished Author Reading From His Works - "The Wash Tub" and "The Happy Couple"
This post will look at a recording made by the Columbia Records of W. Somerset Maugham reading two of his short stories: "The Wash Tub" (1929) and "The Happy Couple" (1943). The text of these short stories is available on the free ebook - short stories page.

I have uploaded one of the stories, "The Happy Couple," which you can listen to now.



Somerset Maugham …

The Spoken Word: British Writers

The Spoken Word: British Writers, 3-CD Set (British Library - British Library Sound Archive): Historic Recordings by Original Authors
This is a review of another of the British Library and the BBC historic recordings of authors reading their own short stories. You will find detailed information of Maugham's reading his work and the content of this three CD sets.


Maugham's Reading A Writer's Notebook
Another recordings of writers reading their own works by the British Library and the…

Short Stories. English and Irish Authors Read Their Own Work (The Spoken Word)

Short Stories: English & Irish Authors Read Their Own Work (The Spoken Word) This is a review of this three CD set The Spoken Word. Short Stories: English and Irish Authors Read Their Own Work, which contains tracks of Maugham reading his own short stories: "Salvatore" and "The Luncheon." You will also find details of the content in this collection of historic recordings.

Maugham's Short Stories
This is the first volume of the audio recording that I reviewed some tim…

Short Stories: Volume 2: British and Irish Authors Read Their Own Work (The Spoken Word)

Short Stories: Volume 2: British and Irish Authors Read Their Own Work (The Spoken Word): Review of Maugham's Reading of His Short Story
This is a three CD set of historic recordings: authors reading their own work. W. Somerset Maugham reads one of his short stories, "The Wash Tub," in one of the audio tracks. We will look at what this CD set contains and some information about Maugham's reading.

Audio Book Recording:  Maugham's "The Wash Tub" 
Different from the…

W. Somerset Maugham Reading the Three Fat Women of Antibes. Gigolo & Gigolette

W. Somerset Maugham Reading the 3 Fat Women of Antibes. Gigolo & Gigolette.
This is a short review of an historic audio book recording, of Maugham reading his two of his own short stories: "The Three Fat Women of Antibes"and "Gigolo and Gigolette."

This is a terrific object to possess for Maugham's admirers. For an hour one listens to how Maugham reads his own stories with a variety of tones and cadence. The experience is simply wonderful. The three women came impres…