Golden Oldy

It stands the test of time. Beautifully written and very well performed. I would certainly recommend this work even if only as a record of the time in which it was written. I'll be listening to more.

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Times gone past

Scrupulous. Set in a some in the UK want us to return to lol. Great drawing of characters and turn of phrases.

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Excellent. Top quality writing.

Well read. Easy to listen to. Maugham is a truly great writer who creates superb narratives, beautifully structured.

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Great but problem with recording

Twords middle of recording part of an earlier chapter is repeated. A pity as it’s a good story and a wonderful reading of it

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7 people found this helpful

The quality shines through.

Mr Maugham is not very fashionable at this time and not always politically correct by modern standards but he writes a beautiful story and creates interesting characters.
His characters belong to onother time but their failings and strengths belong to any age.
The quality shines through.

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4 people found this helpful

A neglected masterpiece from a neglected master

This was a book that I read more than thirty years ago, and more recently perhaps just seven or eight years ago. A quick dip through it over the last week confirms why I am so fond of it and why I enjoy it so much - and my enjoyment only seems to deepen with the recent publication of a much heralded biography of Thomas Hardy by Claire Tomalin in 2007. On the surface this 1930 novel and the 1930’s Maugham seems to run parallel to Wodehouse - with whom the early pages ring. The young Ashenden and his comic Parson uncle function perfectly well as a Wodehouse playhouse, but this theme is quickly transcended and we have high satire, aimed - it is alleged but let’s say it is true squarely at Hugh Walpole (?) - Alroy Kear - and, of course Thomas Hardy - Edward Driffield. The beauty of this novel is twofold. Firstly it is in the development and treatment of Rosie Driffied (n?e Gann). It would be well worth surveying all of Maugham’s female characters to see his complete lack of patronage towards a well-drawn picture that his narrator does not ever understand, but also never judges. The former barmaid is at the heart of this story of high-end literary types and, whilst they are subject to ribaldry and stereotyping, the functions of Rosie remain unique and never quite explained. Her role is to cast all of the other characters - Driffield, Mrs Barton Trafford and Lord George - as shadows and imaginings against the Realism of her own story in the novel. Secondly, it is the plotting of the narrative line that is really extra-ordinary and a great achievement which demonstrates what can be achieved in the last throes of authentic Realism. In casting aside a request to write the life of a great writer, our narrator writes the life of a great character and turns the whole thing on its head by playing with the notion of real life impinging on a fictional form.

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6 people found this helpful

The smooth flowing Prose

I could listen to S M’s prose ably read every day of my life. And Audible gives me that privilege

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Not one to fall asleep to.

What did you like best about Cakes and Ale? What did you like least?

With an intriguing storyline and subtle yet clever characterisation, Cakes and Ale makes for an educational and insightful book. However, this is not for those who don't always pay attention to what they are listening to; Maugham enjoys his tangents, and they are not always brief, so near full attention is required. Otherwise a thoroughly enjoyable and rewarding audible experience.

What other book might you compare Cakes and Ale to, and why?

The life of Thomas Hardy is said to have inspired much of this work, and it explores the balance between a writers fame and worth. As such some have argued that it is an attack on Hardy himself, leading to the penning of 'Gin and Bitters' as a parody of Maugham's efforts.

What does James Saxon bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

An engaging and personal narrative, with careful hints in his tone of his possibly protective presentation of some of his memories, despite his insistence otherwise. Even if you are a little taken aback at first, when you get used to his voice and rhythm, you are swept up in the story.

Did Cakes and Ale inspire you to do anything?

To delve further into the Maugham canon, and to read around the authors who are supposedly the influence for this piece.

Any additional comments?

An alternative name for this book is 'The Skeleton in the Cupboard', but on reflection 'Cakes and Ale' is much more appropriate in the subtle and vaguely ironic tone that it imparts to the novel as a whole.

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14 people found this helpful

Wonderful

Takes you back to a time very long ago - when culture and expected social behaviour was very very different - but his wicked wit and character analysis is as sharp now as ever. I thought it was a wonderful book. Bitter and sweet - beautifully narrated. My only complaint is it finished when I was not ready for it to finish! and it could have carried on for a long time more - so I had to listen to it again immediately.
As other reviewers have mentioned there is a small glitch with one of the chapters repeating in part - you just need to skip a couple of minutes and it carries on as normal.

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4 people found this helpful

One of Somerset Maugham's great short stories

It doesn't take much to transpose Ashenden the youth to Somerset Maugham.
A lovely story, narrated extremely well about the late Victorian Edwardian eras and told in such a way you can really be transported to the eras.
Loved our Rosie, salt of the earth lady, brought to life in a real setting, as was Ashenden. Great audio book, once again by one of our greatest writers

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4 people found this helpful