
audiobook
by W. Somerset (William Somerset) Maugham
Set against the glittering backdrop of Monte Carlo’s Hotel Splendide, this witty comedy opens in a richly appointed drawing‑room where a determined Lady of society, fresh from a long journey, demands an audience with her brother despite his insistence on privacy. The dialogue crackles with sharp repartee as servants and aristocrats navigate the delicate dance of propriety, hinting at underlying tensions between duty and desire. The first act’s bustling entrance of a steadfast valet and a self‑possessed gentleman establishes a lively tableau of high‑society intrigue, inviting listeners to savor the humor and elegance of Edwardian manners.
The volume also presents two companion pieces: an adventurous tale of discovery that follows an intrepid explorer confronting both wilderness and inner doubt, and a moral drama titled “A Man of Honour,” where loyalty and reputation clash in a world of political ambition. Together, these plays offer a varied portrait of early‑20th‑century theatre, balancing sparkling comedy with earnest exploration of character and conscience.
Language
en
Duration
~6 hours (364K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Chuck Greif and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images available at The Internet Archive)
Release date
2011-11-09
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Subjects

1874–1965
Known for clear, graceful prose and a sharp eye for human weakness, he became one of the most widely read English writers of the 20th century. His novels, stories, and plays often mix wit, travel, and hard-earned insight about love, ambition, and illusion.
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