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"She was like a clear, deep pool in a forest glade"
Well written but not his greatest.
Truth, Art and Artifice
The Muse of Youth
Good, but the least of the 3 I've read

Cakes and Ale
W. Somerset Maugham
Manufacturer: Vintage
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Similar Items:

The Razor's Edge
Up at the Villa
The Painted Veil
Mrs Craddock (Penguin Twentieth-Century Classics)
The Moon and Sixpence (Dover Value Editions)

ASIN: 0375725024
Release Date: 2000-12-05

Book Description

Cakes and Ale is a delicious satire of London literary society between the Wars. Social climber Alroy Kear is flattered when he is selected by Edward Driffield's wife to pen the official biography of her lionized novelist husband, and determined to write a bestseller. But then Kear discovers the great novelist's voluptuous muse (and unlikely first wife), Rosie. The lively, loving heroine once gave Driffield enough material to last a lifetime, but now her memory casts an embarrissing shadow over his career and respectable image. Wise, witty, deeply satisfying, Cakes and Ale is Maugham at his best.

Customer Reviews:

"She was like a clear, deep pool in a forest glade".......2006-04-17

When writer Willie Ashenden receives a telephone call from second-rate writer Alroy Kear, he greets the urgent request for a meeting with some reluctance. On one level Ashenden admires Kear's "rise in the world of letters." Kear "had achieved so considerable a position on so little talent," and as a shallow toady, he also knows exactly how to market his skills, wooing and flattering any stray dissenters. Ashenden is well aware that Kear must want something from him, but when Kear finally hunts down his quarry, Ashenden is a little surprised to learn that Kear has been commissioned to write the biography of one of England's most venerable writers, Edward Driffield.

Driffield--recently deceased--left behind a widow, the admirable Mrs. Driffield. She was Edward's second wife, and she served as her husband's nurse prior to their marriage. When she married the elderly Driffield, he was already famous, and Mrs. Driffield began sanitizing Edward's reputation--slowly converting him into a living relic. Edward's early years are a bit of an embarrassment. Born in poverty to a lowly bailiff, he made an unfortunate marriage to the local barmaid, Rosie. The marriage ended in disaster, and it certainly proves to be an awkward period to include and explain in the vanity bio that Kear intends to produce. And this is where Ashenden comes into the picture. Ashenden and Driffield came from the same village, and when Ashenden was a boy, he knew Driffield. Ashenden's memories of Driffield as a young man could prove invaluable ... just as long as they are the right sort of recollections. Ashenden, unfortunately, remembers such details as Driffield singing "Come Where the Booze is Cheaper."

"Cakes and Ale" brilliantly weaves the connections between the three writers--Kear, Driffield and Ashenden as the novel goes back into Ashenden's memories of Driffield and his first wife, Rosie. While she is a black blot in Driffield's personal life, it cannot be denied that he wrote his masterpieces when they were together. Kear and the widow Driffield patronizingly dismiss Rosie as a "nymphomaniac," but Ashenden's recollections of her breathe life into the image of Druffield's muse. At once earthy and unaffected, Rosie also possessed an almost ethereal beauty. Ashenden remembers her as an amazing, unusual woman, and that, unfortunately doesn't fit the picture that Kear has in mind.

It's argued that Maugham based the character of Kear on novelist Hugh Walpole, and in the depiction of Driffield, it's impossible not to recognize Thomas Hardy. Maugham denied this--saying that both Kear and Driffield were mere composites. Druffield is seen in all phases of his life--careless joy of youth, the despair of adulthood, and the resignation and acceptance of his later years. He is depicted as a man surrounded by strong female characters--the elusive Rosie, the preposterous social climber Mrs. Barton Trafford, and finally his second wife, the indomitable, controlling nurse. Only Rosie gave without demanding something in return, and while the other two women were parasites of Edward's fame, Rosie remains--at least to this reader--the obvious and unforgettable model for Driffield's/Thomas Hardy's greatest heroines. "Cakes and Ale" is considered a minor Maugham novel, but it's a masterpiece laced with Maugham's characteristic biting wit and Maugham fans must not miss it--displacedhuman

Well written but not his greatest........2005-09-06

The reason that I read this book was because I fell in love with W. Somerset Maugham's writing style when I read 'Of Human Bondage'. Unfortunately, I was greatly disappointed to go from 'Of Human Bondage', which is now my favourite book, to 'Cakes & Ale'. From the very beginning I confess that I had difficulty with the storyline. I found myself constantly wondering what the setting was of a scene. I found the character of Roy rather distracting and dull. Despite the fact that the story would not exist if not for his character, I felt that he was of no importance.

The only time that I actually felt myself get interested in the story was when Edward and Rosie Driffield came onto the pages. I enjoyed their characters and the way that they interacted with Ashenden. From the very beginning I liked both of their characters, especially Rosie for her personality.

Although this book was beautiful and so well written I found myself staring down at the pages in awe at times, I did not enjoy it as much as 'Of Human Bondage' and 'The Razor's Edge', which I read directly after 'Cakes & Ale'. I would have to say the only good things about this novel were Edward and Rosie's characters and the last few pages. The one thing that truly turned me against liking this book was the ending. To me it seemed rather abrupt and not at all fitting of the story. It left me cold as the majority of the story did. I was unable to connect with the characters very well, which is something that bothers me to no end. I like to get involved in the book I am reading, feel what the characters are feeling, but there was so little of that here that by the time I finished this book I was admittedly a bit disgusted that I had wasted my time by reading it.

Truth, Art and Artifice.......2005-06-30

In the late 1920's, an aged literary lion, a venerated late Victorian novelist, Edward Driffield, has died and his widow thinks his life should be written down. She appeals to a younger novelist, Alroy Kear, who had attached himself to their society. In turn, he appeals to a friend who he knows must have known the legend earlier in life. The friend he turns to is the first-person narrator of CAKES AND ALE, Ashenden, also a novelist, who gradually reveals to the reader the truth of the deceased's early life. How much he will reveal to the other characters is another thing, and even if he did, the controlling widow, the man's second and much younger wife, would most likely excise what does not fit the public image she had worked hard to preserve. When it comes to pinning down a protagonist, however, the novel turns on the character of Rosie, Driffield's long-gone first wife.

Several things are going on in CAKES AND ALE. One is the real history of Edward Driffield (whose stature and career bear something of a resemblance to Thomas Hardy, who died in 1928), and the narrator's own interlinked coming of age. Then there is the narrator's scathing look at literary society and the machinations by which critical success and public favor are won. He drops a lot of industry insider jokes, and several actual personages are discussed, but he also returns to the eternal writers' theme of who among them will be read past their deaths. Lastly, the sharp contrast between Victorian life and 20th century existence emerges as a dramatic theme; there is the sense that those with one foot in each culture will never be able to fully absorb the rapid change in mores and fashions. The only figure who floats across the divide is the person who from the outset bucked convention of any kind, Rosie.

Maugham infuses the narrative with a sharp wit and good conversation. It is very shrewd and justifiably cynical about human ambitions and weaknesses. The dramatic story unfolds slowly but with tensions and secrets that keep going until the very end. This remains very satisfying reading 75 years after publication.

The Muse of Youth.......2005-02-06

In the development from squalling tyke to full-fledged adulthood, human beings tend to gather around them items of media that reflect back upon them their personal conception of the world, in all its myriad forms: music that invigorates the higher spheres, movies that confirm our own view of existence, and authors that speak directly to us, that seem able to give tangible expression to our individual perceptions. For me, reading Somerset Maugham is like diving into the ambivalent soup of my own viewpoint. With his dry wit, penetrating digressions and general psychological understanding of the foibles and frequent inconsistencies of human behavior, Somerset ~feels~ like a fellow brother-in-arms, a voice in the ether, a soulmate artist intoning over the distance of seven decades. It's like reading my own thoughts. Thus have I systematically perused the man's greater works, including his two masterpieces *Of Human Bondage* and *The Razor's Edge*, and returned again and again to the little jewels that fashion the glittering arraignment of his literary crown, being the short stories that are the condensed summation of Somerset's genius perception. Not that the man would agree with that last statement: Somerset considered himself the top of 2nd tier authors, far from `genius' status; and was condemned by critics for his popularity and lack of the experimental drive. Given that he did not delve into the symbolic/semantic abysses of his contemporaries Faulkner and Joyce, Somerset's oeuvre and reputation has remained 2nd tier for the Ivory Tower set, with his focus on `real world' examination paling before the tongue-twisting allegory-riffing of the literary elite. But I'd rather browse the *Collected Short Stories* for the nth time than be rebuffed by *Finnigan's Wake*, the resultant insights of those short stories revealing more in their brevity than anything I could possibly assimilate in the syntax swamp of the Dubliner.

Despite his so-called 2nd tier status, Somerset has survived the literary axe of indifference, gaining stature as the years march on and his works are continually reexamined; and it is curious to read, near the beginning of this novel, the author's alias Ashenden argue with a potboiler-scribe named Roy Kear about posterity - specifically which of their colleagues will endure their current era. Roy Kear claims that that the principle subject of their discussion, a one Edward Driffield, so-called "last of the Victorians", has put a permanent stamp upon the literary zeitgeist. Ashenden/Somerset refutes this with this simple opinion that he finds Driffield's works "rather boring." And later, around the halfway mark of *Cakes and Ales*, Somerset slips from the narrative into a long digression about posterity itself, concluding with the basic idea: "Longevity = Posterity." Driffield, loosely based on Thomas Hardy, wrote so many novels, and lived to such an advanced age, that he outlasted all his competitors and was eventually hailed as a "living genius" by a society desperate for continual applications to the Canon, especially those survivors who could be re-discovered and subsequently championed. If Somerset's theory is correct, then even Stephen King will be considered an essential stone in the Zeitgeist (... "NEVER! NEVER!" I can hear the Bloomites and literati shout, even now) with his accurate reflection of 20th century atmosphere - real-time horrors metaphorically transfigured into cheesy monsters - and, more importantly, by his vast, prolific staying power. Time will tell.

*Cakes and Ale* is a minor work of Somerset's oeuvre, but not insignificant: the author himself stated it to be his favorite work, and I must admit that, like the short fiction, this slender volume contains the essence of Somerset's talent and technique, a condensed viewpoint much easier and overall enjoyable than the emotional torment *Of Human Bondage.* The book concerns itself with the legacy of Edward Driffield, post-mortem; Roy Kears has been hired to write a glowing tribute/biography of the famous author, and he enlists Somerset, who knew the deceased long before his literary fame, to help with research. *Cakes and Ale* is thus a near-sequel to *Of Human Bondage*, as Somerset reflects on his boyhood days - the terrible conformity and isolationism of English villages; his eventual escape therein - a flight aided in part by Driffield and the central pivot of the man's career, his first wife Rosie. Rosie, free-thinking, vivacious and serially unfaithful, inspires Driffield's finest novels and serves as his golden-haired muse. Roy Kears and Driffield's second wife view Rosie as the stain upon the authorial page, the impediment which kept the author from his deserved glory: she is to be reduced as much as possible from the biography. Somerset thinks otherwise, although he is remarkably prejudiced, given his relationship with her; but with the concluding passages of *Cakes and Ale* he gives concrete evidence as to the importance of this wanton Muse, without which Driffield might never have attained his peak prowess.

(A side note: Rosie's character reminds me of Ida, from Graham Greene's *Brighton Rock*, and both can be viewed as an English author's artistic attempt to exorcise the puritan viewpoint of the day about "loose women" in general. "Rosie was made to love," Somerset gushes, biased by circumstance but psychologically keen nonetheless).

*Cakes and Ale*: A minor but extremely enjoyable text from one of the greatest observers/authors of the early 20th century. Highly Recommended.

Good, but the least of the 3 I've read.......2005-02-01

In addition to this, I've also read Of Human Bondage and The Razor's Edge. This is the least of the three, but still enjoyable. Not as controversial as one might be lead to believe, though I suspect it raised a few brows in its time. Maugham seemed to be big on having women as whores for central characters. Not all the women characters, but there seems like there is always one. This doesn't always mean they are bad people, just real real loose! This title isn't necessarily only for completists. If you are new to him, check out Of Human Bondage. It's his best that I've come across so far.

Cakes and Ale,the Painted Veil,Liza of Lambeth,Razor's Edge,Theatre,Moon and Sixpence

Average customer rating:

No need for the review

Cakes and Ale,the Painted Veil,Liza of Lambeth,Razor's Edge,Theatre,Moon and Sixpence
W Somerset Maugham
Manufacturer: Octopus Publising Group Plc
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Up at the Villa
The Razor's Edge
The Moon and Sixpence (Dover Value Editions)

ASIN: 090571234X

Customer Reviews:

No need for the review.......2007-04-17

C'mon, this is Somerset Maugham. That says it all. If you know him, you do not need my review. If you don't .... well ... perhaps there is a reason why you don't .... ;-) Buy any of the Somerset Maugham's books and enjoy them as millions have done over the close to a century.

Cakes And Ale For The Pagan Soul: Spells, Recipes, And Reflections From Neopagan Elders and Teachers

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Not what I expected
Lifts a pagan's spirits
A celebration of pagan spirituality and love
May you never hunger or thirst, my friends
A whole lot of soul food

Cakes And Ale For The Pagan Soul: Spells, Recipes, And Reflections From Neopagan Elders and Teachers

Manufacturer: Crossing Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Wicca | Earth-Based Religions | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

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An' Ye Harm None: Magical Morality And Modern Ethics
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ASIN: 1580911641

Book Description

Call them elders, teachers, priests, or priestesses: they are the forefront of a growing movement known as neo-paganism. This renaissance in pre-Christian religions represents a wide range of belief systems, such as Wicca, neo-Druidism, and other earth-based faiths. Compiled by pagan author Patricia Telesco, CAKES AND ALE FOR THE PAGAN SOUL offers 50 hearty doses of magic, wisdom, history, and humor for modern witches and druids. Notable contributors include Margot Adler (Drawing Down the Moon), Starhawk (The Spiral Dance), Raymond Buckland (Buckland's Complete Book of Witchcraft), and many more. This A-to-Z compendium covers diverse topics such as community, mindfulness, children, and ritual, weaving a colorful tapestry of modern pagan views and values. You'll be regaled with insightful stories and read tips about integrating pagan practices into the modern world through ritual and activism. Contributors also share recipes for their favorite incense blends, purposeful potions, and magical menus. So, take a seat on the communal hearth, and let CAKES AND ALE fill you with the warmth, sustenance, and inspiration every neo-pagan needs.

Customer Reviews:

Not what I expected.......2006-08-20

When I saw the title of this book, I expected it to be a "Chicken Soup for the ___ Soul" type book. I expected to read a bunch of short stories of the heartwarming (and possibly a little sickeningly sweet) variety, told from the pagan point of view. However, the book had a bit of a "soapbox" feel to me. It was full of articles, how-to rituals,(which are fine in their own right, but I wanted stories) and just an offhand mention of stories. I felt a little cheated, because I wanted a light hearted and fluffy, feel good book and got what felt a bit like a homework assignment.

Lifts a pagan's spirits.......2005-12-06

Very nice book to pick up read a few passages when you are feeling in need a lift. Helps you remember why you choose to believe in magic.

A celebration of pagan spirituality and love.......2005-11-23

This book was the most wonderful book I have ever read. I keep a copy with me at all times. It pages are filled with love and knowledge and things that enrich my life. I could not imagine my life without it

May you never hunger or thirst, my friends.......2005-08-31

I really enjoyed some of the pieces in Telesco's anthology, and feel they were worth the price of the book. The following selections are purely personal, but I felt Richardson was very moving, Starhawk most interesting, and Oberon Zell's brief piece was beautiful and peaceful, not soon forgotten. Precious Nielson also had an incredibly sad but revealing story to tell -she truly recreated the family she had lost with the snarling terrified cat and its kittens. Two other stand-outs - Dunham's tale of her miserable pregnancy, fear of labor and delivery, and the culminating transformation, and Adler's insights on the unexpectedly positive reactions of some of her nonpagan colleagues.

A whole lot of soul food.......2005-06-23

I agree with both previous reviewers in that this book is not one to miss. The diversity of voices is wonderful and gives you a peek into our leaders, teachers, and facilitators in a whole new way. I like the fact that even Christian-flavored Wiccans are included here in that it reveals our diversity, and our ability to find beauty in that diversity (and hopefully learn from it).

I was particularly touched by Hardin's, Bev's and a few other pieces, but I think that each person will find stories that inspire them depending on what's happening in your life right now. Read it again in a few months - and others may jump out. This is a great tome to keep next to your bed and finger through to find that right "soup" to feed your need and open up new ideas.

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Cakes and Ale
W. Somerset Maugham
Manufacturer: Pocket
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000EWIP10

Product Description

The bok tells the tale of early days in London, a woman felling free to love and lots of men to love.

Average customer rating:

Cakes and Ale
W. Somerset MAUgham
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000H9A1FI

Cakes And Ale: The Golden Age of British Feasting

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Cakes And Ale: The Golden Age of British Feasting
Judy Spours
Manufacturer: The National Archives Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 1905615027
Release Date: 2006-12-08

Product Description

Once upon a time there was a Britain where cakes and ale were considered nutritious and healthy. Late Victorian and Edwardian fleshy figures were further fattened with rich fruit loaf, and ailing ladies imbibed milk stout as a tonic. These were pleasures brought by a new industrial age and the mass-production of food and drink. Cakes and Ale is a cultural history of a turn-of-the-century era of feasting, when the first domestic goddesses began cooking in their own kitchens but servants were still on hand for many to mix drinks at glamorous parties. An affluent and leisured new middle class was keen to impress, and working people could enjoy an unprecedented variety of foods and drinks. Manufacturers responded with the glorious printed advertisements and seductive images that illustrate this book and speak volumes about the contemporary social scene. In whisky and beer advertisements gentlemen sport top hats and working me flat caps, Scotsmen always wear kilts and butlers a wily smile. Blazoned alongside them are the play-on-words that amused and persuaded their audiences. Cookery books were suddenly widely available, with pictures of bowls of punch, crusty pork pies and towering jellies and blancmanges to emulate for seasonal meals. We are what we eat - and drink - and always were.

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Cakes and Ale and Twelve Short Stories
W Somerset Maugham
Manufacturer: Doubleday
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000GGY5DG

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Cakes and Ale
W Somerset Maugham
Manufacturer: The Folio Society
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000JHX9XE

Average customer rating:

For Maugham it's Cakes and ale
W. Somerset Maugham
Manufacturer: New York Times Co
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
ASIN: B0007K85AK

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CAKES AND ALE
W. SOMERSET MAUGHAM
Manufacturer: PENGUIN
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000S7JXI0

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