December 4 2020

 The Razor's Edge (1943)

By W Somerset Maugham

This complex novel is set in the years following World War 1.  The author makes himself the narrator as well as a character in the story, which opens in Chicago, where he is visiting his good friend the prominent decorator Elliott Templeton, along with Elliott's socialite sister Louisa Bradley and her pretty daughter Isabel.  The late Mr Bradley had been a US ambassador and the family is very at home in the European capitols, where much of the story takes place.  The story centers around Larry Darrell, Isabel's childhood friend and now her fiancé, but their relationship faces difficulties as Larry has changed following his experience as a pilot in the war.  While attractive and pleasant he has no apparent ambition except to "loaf" - as he puts it, content to live off a small inheritance, read, and travel.  When Isabel can't persuade him to get a job - an offer has been made by Isabel and Larry's friend Gray Maturin's father - Isabel finally gives up on Larry and accepts Gray's offer of marriage. They are destined to stay in touch, however, as the Maturin's firm goes bankrupt in the Great Depression and Isabel, Gray and their daughters go to live in Elliott's Paris apartment.  Larry goes in and out of their lives, working in a coal mine, then on a farm, a monastery in Germany, an ashram in India, but often in Paris in between trips.  Larry seems at peace - though his friends can't understand his constant moves and searching.  He tries to help a couple of women associated with the author (Sophie and Suzanna) though more for humanitarian reasons than romantic notions.

Despite Larry's aimlessness, it's obvious Isabel still wants him (reminiscent of Scarlett O'Hara's lust for Ashley Wilkes).  Perhaps others vets felt as Larry did, but lacked the independent means to pursue their restless feelings and instead were obligated to set goals, make a living, support themselves and possibly a family, and find hope again.  

The story offers a few surprising turns but all of the players remain true to character throughout, and in the end - as the authors suggests - each of them got what they wanted.