{"title":"Perfectly polite lives, quietly falling apart","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"UTF-8\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis W. Somerset Maugham collection gathers sharp, unblinking tales of people who almost get what they want—or discover too late what it cost them. From drawing rooms buzzing with gossip to remote outposts thick with heat and regret, his stories follow restless artists, anxious colonials, and respectable souls nursing very unrespectable desires. The prose stays cool while the emotions smolder, turning chance encounters, small compromises, and private betrayals into elegantly told disasters you cannot look away from.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"of-human-bondage","title":"Of Human Bondage","description":"\u003ch4 class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003eHe wanted freedom. He found bondage. He called it love.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003eW. Somerset Maugham's masterpiece is a potent expression of the power of sexual obsession and of modern man's yearning for freedom. This classic bildungsroman tells the story of Philip Carey, a sensitive boy born with a clubfoot who is orphaned and raised by a religious aunt and uncle. Philip yearns for adventure, and at eighteen leaves home, eventually pursuing a career as an artist in Paris. When he returns to London to study medicine, he meets the androgynous but alluring Mildred and begins a doomed love affair that will change the course of his life.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003ePhilip loses both parents as a child. His mother dies shortly after his father, and he is sent to live with his cold, indifferent uncle, a vicar in a small Kentish village. He is mocked at school for his clubfoot. He rebels against becoming a minister, spends a year in Heidelberg exploring atheism and bohemian ideas, tries and fails as an accountant, studies art in Paris, and finally settles on medicine—his late father's profession. Then he meets Mildred Rogers, a vulgar, selfish, uneducated waitress who treats him with contempt. He falls obsessively in love with her. He spends his inheritance on her. She leaves him for another man. She returns, pregnant and abandoned. He takes her in. She leaves him for his best friend. She returns again, now a prostitute with syphilis. He takes her in again. She destroys his belongings and disappears. Through it all, Philip cannot free himself from the woman who brings him nothing but misery.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003eThis is Maugham at his most honest and unflinching: a novel about the chains we forge ourselves—family, religion, ambition, and the most irrational bondage of all: love. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003eOf Human Bondage\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e is widely considered Maugham's masterpiece and one of the greatest novels of the twentieth century.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003eA deeply autobiographical work, drawing on Maugham's own experiences as an orphan, a medical student, and a man struggling with his sexuality\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003eFeatures Mildred Rogers, described by one contemporary critic as one of the most hateful and disagreeable female characters in fiction\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003eSelected by the Modern Library as one of the 100 best novels of all time\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003eAvailable in multiple formats:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003ePaperback \u0026amp; Hardcover:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e Beautifully designed print editions presenting the complete, unabridged text made to last.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003eEbook:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e DRM-free EPUB compatible with Kindle, Kobo, Apple Books, and all major e-readers.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003eAudiobook:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e Professionally narrated, complete and unabridged, available on all major audiobook platforms.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003eA beautifully crafted edition for your shelf, your device, or your ears, or the perfect gift for anyone who knows that the hardest chains to break are the ones we choose to wear.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003eW. Somerset Maugham\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e (1874–1965) was an English novelist, playwright, and short story writer, one of the most popular and highest-paid authors of his time. Born in Paris, he was orphaned as a boy and sent to live with an emotionally distant uncle—experiences that would shape \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003eOf Human Bondage\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e. He studied medicine at St. Thomas's Hospital in London, but the success of his first novel, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003eLiza of Lambeth\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e (1897), won him over to letters. His later masterpieces include \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003eThe Moon and Sixpence\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e (1919), \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003eCakes and Ale\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e (1930), and \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003eThe Razor's Edge\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e (1944). During and after World War I, he worked as a spy for the British Secret Intelligence Service, an experience that inspired his novel \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003eAshenden\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e (1927), which later influenced Ian Fleming's James Bond series. Maugham died in France in 1965.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Casa Carlini","offers":[{"title":"Audiobook","offer_id":54613340258676,"sku":null,"price":9.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Ebook","offer_id":54613340291444,"sku":null,"price":9.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":54613340324212,"sku":null,"price":18.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Hardcover","offer_id":54613340356980,"sku":null,"price":25.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0988\/5561\/6884\/files\/casa-carlini-simple-audiobook-of-human-bondage-53827550347636.jpg?v=1779965585"},{"product_id":"the-moon-and-sixpence","title":"The Moon and Sixpence","description":"\u003ch4 class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003eHe abandoned his wife. He abandoned his children. He abandoned civilization itself. And then he painted something beautiful.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003eW. Somerset Maugham's most enduring novel is a savage, brilliant portrait of an artist who burns every bridge to pursue a vision that only he can see—loosely based on the life of the painter Paul Gauguin.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003eCharles Strickland is a London stockbroker, middle-aged, dull, respectable. He has a wife, two children, a comfortable home, and a future of predictable contentment. Then he walks away. No warning. No explanation. He goes to Paris, lives in squalor, and begins to paint. He is not a good man. He is not a kind man. He is indifferent to the suffering of those who love him, indifferent to the women who throw themselves at him, indifferent to the friend who sacrifices his home, his wife, and eventually his life for Strickland's art. Strickland does not care. He cares only about the vision burning inside him, the thing he must get down on canvas before it consumes him entirely.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003eThe novel follows Strickland from London to Paris to Marseilles to Tahiti, where he finally finds the freedom to paint as he must. He takes a native wife, has children, contracts leprosy, and goes blind. In his final months, with no one to watch, he paints a masterpiece on the walls of his hut—then orders it burned after his death.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003eThis is Maugham at his most provocative and memorable: a novel about the cost of genius, the cruelty of the artistic impulse, and the people left behind when someone decides that beauty matters more than love. The title refers to an old saying: to pursue the moon is to aim for the highest, most transcendent goal; to care about sixpence is to worry about money, comfort, and the opinion of others. Strickland chooses the moon. Everyone else pays the price.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003eFirst published in 1919, Maugham's most famous novel, inspired by the life of Paul Gauguin\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003eA provocative exploration of artistic genius, obsession, and the human cost of creativity\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003eHas never gone out of print and remains a touchstone for anyone who has ever wondered whether greatness is worth the price\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003eAvailable in multiple formats:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003ePaperback \u0026amp; Hardcover:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e Beautifully designed print editions presenting the complete, unabridged text made to last.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003eEbook:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e DRM-free EPUB compatible with Kindle, Kobo, Apple Books, and all major e-readers.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003eAudiobook:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e Professionally narrated, complete and unabridged, available on all major audiobook platforms.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003eA beautifully crafted edition for your shelf, your device, or your ears, or the perfect gift for anyone who knows that the moon is beautiful, but that the sixpence matters too.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003eW. Somerset Maugham\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e (1874–1965) was an English novelist, playwright, and short story writer, one of the most popular and highest-paid authors of his time. Born in Paris, he was orphaned as a boy and sent to live with an emotionally distant uncle—experiences that would shape his writing. He studied medicine at St. Thomas's Hospital in London, but the success of his first novel, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003eLiza of Lambeth\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e (1897), led him to turn to letters. His masterpieces include \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003eOf Human Bondage\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e (1915), \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003eThe Moon and Sixpence\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e (1919), \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003eCakes and Ale\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e (1930), and \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003eThe Razor's Edge\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e (1944). During and after World War I, he worked as a spy for the British Secret Intelligence Service, an experience that inspired his novel \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003eAshenden\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e (1927), which later influenced Ian Fleming's James Bond series. Maugham died in France in 1965.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Casa Carlini","offers":[{"title":"Audiobook","offer_id":54647425499508,"sku":null,"price":0.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Ebook","offer_id":54647425532276,"sku":null,"price":9.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":54647425565044,"sku":null,"price":17.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Hardcover","offer_id":54647425597812,"sku":null,"price":21.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0988\/5561\/6884\/files\/casa-carlini-simple-audiobook-the-moon-and-sixpence-53953416298868.jpg?v=1779965573"},{"product_id":"ashenden","title":"Ashenden","description":"\u003ch4 class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003eHe was a spy. He was a writer. He was not sure which was more dishonest.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003eW. Somerset Maugham's groundbreaking collection of short stories is one of the first works of modern spy fiction—a genre-defining masterpiece that inspired Ian Fleming's James Bond series and forever changed how we think about espionage.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003eThe protagonist, Ashenden, is a disillusioned British playwright recruited by British Intelligence during World War I. He is not a hero. He is not a trained operative. He is a writer who is given a gun, a code name, and a series of assignments that take him across Switzerland, Russia, and the Mediterranean. He does not fight in glamorous shootouts. He waits in dreary hotel rooms. He reads passports. He stages elaborate deceptions that depend on psychology, not violence. He is sent to spy on a man who claims to have written a novel Ashenden has never heard of, to seduce a beautiful woman who may be working for the Germans, to deliver a poisoned chocolate box to an enemy agent who is already dying of consumption.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003eThe stories are spare, ironic, and deeply cynical. Espionage, Maugham suggests, is not about heroism but about boredom, moral compromise, and the quiet desperation of men and women who have lost their illusions.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003eThis is Maugham at his most dry and devastating: a collection that influenced generations of spy novelists, from Ian Fleming to John le Carré. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003eAshenden\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e is not a book about adventure. It is a book about the loneliness of the spy, the absurdity of the trade, and the strange, quiet courage required to keep pretending.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003eFirst published in 1928, based on Maugham's own experiences as a British intelligence agent during World War I\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003eA major influence on Ian Fleming's James Bond series and the modern spy genre\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003eFeatures sixteen stories of espionage, betrayal, and moral ambiguity\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003eAvailable in multiple formats:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003ePaperback \u0026amp; Hardcover:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e Beautifully designed print editions presenting the complete, unabridged text made to last.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003eEbook:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e DRM-free EPUB compatible with Kindle, Kobo, Apple Books, and all major e-readers.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003eAudiobook:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e Professionally narrated, complete and unabridged, available on all major audiobook platforms.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003eA beautifully crafted edition for your shelf, your device, or your ears, or the perfect gift for anyone who knows that the most dangerous spies are the ones who never fire a shot.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003eW. Somerset Maugham\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e (1874–1965) was an English novelist, playwright, and short story writer, one of the most popular and highest-paid authors of his time. Born in Paris, he was orphaned as a boy and sent to live with an emotionally distant uncle. He studied medicine at St. Thomas's Hospital in London, but the success of his first novel, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003eLiza of Lambeth\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e (1897), won him over to letters. During and after World War I, he worked as a spy for the British Secret Intelligence Service. The character of Ashenden was based on his own experiences as an agent in Switzerland and Russia. His masterpieces include \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003eOf Human Bondage\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e (1915), \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003eThe Moon and Sixpence\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e (1919), \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003eCakes and Ale\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e(1930), and \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003eThe Razor's Edge\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e (1944). Maugham died in France in 1965.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Casa Carlini","offers":[{"title":"Audiobook","offer_id":54685449617780,"sku":null,"price":13.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Ebook","offer_id":54685449650548,"sku":null,"price":9.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":54685449683316,"sku":null,"price":16.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Hardcover","offer_id":54685449716084,"sku":null,"price":21.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0988\/5561\/6884\/files\/casa-carlini-simple-audiobook-ashenden-54005670936948.jpg?v=1779965574"},{"product_id":"orientations","title":"Orientations","description":"\u003ch4 dir=\"auto\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eExotic lands. Moral dilemmas. Human folly laid bare with razor-sharp wit.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eIn this early collection of six short stories, W. Somerset Maugham demonstrates the keen psychological insight and elegant prose that would later make him one of the greatest storytellers of the 20th century. \u003cem\u003eOrientations\u003c\/em\u003e (first published in 1899) takes readers to distant corners of Spain, Italy, and beyond, exploring themes of honor, friendship, faith, desire, and the often ironic clash between ideals and reality.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eFrom the punctilious Spanish nobleman in “The Punctiliousness of Don Sebastian” to the moral complexities of “A Bad Example,” the tender yet flawed bonds in “De Amicitia,” and the quiet struggles of belief and choice in “Faith” and “The Choice of Amyntas,” Maugham reveals his emerging mastery in capturing the contradictions of human nature. These tales blend romantic settings with unflinching realism, irony, and a subtle cynicism that foreshadows the author’s later masterpieces.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eWritten when Maugham was still in his twenties, \u003cem\u003eOrientations\u003c\/em\u003e offers a fascinating glimpse into the development of a literary giant. The stories are rich in atmosphere, psychological depth, and social observation—hallmarks of Maugham’s enduring style.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul dir=\"auto\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFirst published in 1899\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMaugham’s second book and first collection of short stories\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFeatures six tales including “The Punctiliousness of Don Sebastian,” “De Amicitia,” “Faith,” and “The Choice of Amyntas”\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAvailable in multiple formats:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul dir=\"auto\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePaperback \u0026amp; Hardcover\u003c\/strong\u003e: Elegant print editions presenting the complete, unabridged text, ideal for your bookshelf.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eEbook\u003c\/strong\u003e: DRM-free EPUB compatible with Kindle, Kobo, Apple Books, and all major e-readers.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAudiobook\u003c\/strong\u003e: Professionally narrated, complete and unabridged, perfect for immersive listening.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eA beautifully crafted collection for your shelf, your device, or your travels, or the perfect gift for anyone who appreciates masterful short fiction and the elegant ironies of human life.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"auto\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eW. Somerset Maugham\u003c\/strong\u003e (1874–1965) was a British playwright, novelist, and short story writer, regarded as one of the greatest storytellers of his era. A master of lucid, witty prose and penetrating character studies, his works—including \u003cem\u003eOf Human Bondage\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eThe Moon and Sixpence\u003c\/em\u003e, and the short story collections \u003cem\u003eThe Trembling of a Leaf\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eAshenden\u003c\/em\u003e—have delighted readers for over a century. Though trained as a doctor, Maugham found his true calling in literature, drawing from his extensive travels and keen observations of society to create timeless tales of love, adventure, and the human condition.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Casa Carlini","offers":[{"title":"Audiobook","offer_id":54759182631284,"sku":null,"price":13.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Ebook","offer_id":54759182664052,"sku":null,"price":9.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":54759182696820,"sku":null,"price":17.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Hardcover","offer_id":54759182729588,"sku":null,"price":21.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0988\/5561\/6884\/files\/Orientations_W_Somerset_Maugham_Ebook.jpg?v=1780839595"},{"product_id":"cakes-and-ale","title":"Cakes and Ale","description":"\u003ch4 dir=\"auto\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eLiterary ambition. Social hypocrisy. A woman who lived life on her own terms.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eIn W. Somerset Maugham’s witty and sharply satirical novel, \u003cem\u003eCakes and Ale\u003c\/em\u003e (or, \u003cem\u003eThe Skeleton in the Cupboard\u003c\/em\u003e), the successful but cynical writer William Ashenden is drawn into the world of literary politics when his ambitious colleague Alroy Kear asks for help with an official biography of the late great novelist Edward Driffield. What begins as a simple request unearths long-buried truths about Driffield’s humble origins, his scandalous first marriage, and the vibrant, unapologetic woman at its center—Rosie Driffield.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eRosie—warm, generous, free-spirited, and sexually liberated—is the true heart of the story. Her honest embrace of life’s pleasures stands in stark contrast to the stuffy propriety and careerist maneuvering of London’s literary elite. Through Ashenden’s recollections of his own youth in the seaside town of Blackstable and his later encounters in sophisticated society, Maugham delivers a deliciously ironic portrait of hypocrisy, snobbery, and the gap between public reputation and private reality.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eBlending nostalgia, sharp social observation, and Maugham’s trademark elegance, \u003cem\u003eCakes and Ale\u003c\/em\u003e is both a biting satire of the literary world and a warm celebration of vitality, kindness, and living fully. Often considered one of Maugham’s finest novels, it remains a timeless commentary on fame, class, morality, and the messy truth of human nature.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul dir=\"auto\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFirst published in 1930\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFeatures Maugham’s recurring narrator William Ashenden\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA celebrated roman à clef with recognizable portraits of figures from the literary establishment (including elements inspired by Thomas Hardy and Hugh Walpole)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAvailable in multiple formats:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul dir=\"auto\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePaperback \u0026amp; Hardcover\u003c\/strong\u003e: Elegant print editions presenting the complete, unabridged text, ideal for your bookshelf.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eEbook\u003c\/strong\u003e: DRM-free EPUB compatible with Kindle, Kobo, Apple Books, and all major e-readers.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAudiobook\u003c\/strong\u003e: Professionally narrated, complete and unabridged, perfect for immersive listening.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eA beautifully crafted edition for your shelf, your device, or your next reflective read, or the perfect gift for anyone who enjoys elegant satire and unforgettable characters.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"auto\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eW. Somerset Maugham\u003c\/strong\u003e (1874–1965) was a British playwright, novelist, and short story writer, regarded as one of the greatest storytellers of his era. A master of lucid, witty prose and penetrating character studies, his works, including \u003cem\u003eOf Human Bondage\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eThe Moon and Sixpence\u003c\/em\u003e, and the short story collections \u003cem\u003eThe Trembling of a Leaf\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eAshenden, \u003c\/em\u003ehave delighted readers for over a century. Though trained as a doctor, Maugham found his true calling in literature, drawing from his extensive travels and keen observations of society to create timeless tales of love, adventure, and the human condition.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Casa Carlini","offers":[{"title":"Audiobook","offer_id":54759681360244,"sku":null,"price":13.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Ebook","offer_id":54759681393012,"sku":null,"price":9.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":54759681425780,"sku":null,"price":17.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Hardcover","offer_id":54759681458548,"sku":null,"price":21.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0988\/5561\/6884\/files\/Cakes_And_Ale_W_Somerset_Maugham_Ebook_3.jpg?v=1780849813"},{"product_id":"the-trembling-of-a-leaf","title":"The Trembling of a Leaf","description":"\u003ch4 dir=\"auto\"\u003e\u003cem\u003ePalm trees. Pacific islands. Lives forever changed.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eIn W. Somerset Maugham’s masterful collection of six stories set in the South Sea Islands, the exotic becomes intimately human. \u003cem\u003eThe Trembling of a Leaf\u003c\/em\u003e (also known as \u003cem\u003eLittle Stories of the South Sea Islands\u003c\/em\u003e) explores the clash between Western civilization and primal nature, between desire and duty, and the quiet ways the tropics can unravel even the strongest souls.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eFrom the haunting title story of a man haunted by failure and the relentless beauty of the islands, to the tragic “Rain”—one of Maugham’s most famous tales, featuring the fanatical missionary Mr. Davidson and the irrepressible Sadie Thompson—these stories reveal the fragility of human character when removed from the constraints of society. With his signature elegance, psychological acuity, and subtle irony, Maugham delivers unforgettable portraits of planters, missionaries, beachcombers, and dreamers whose lives tremble under the weight of passion, guilt, and the indifferent power of the tropics.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul dir=\"auto\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFirst published in 1921\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIncludes the iconic story “Rain,” which was adapted multiple times for stage and screen\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOne of Maugham’s most celebrated short story collections, drawn from his own Pacific travels\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAvailable in multiple formats:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul dir=\"auto\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePaperback \u0026amp; Hardcover\u003c\/strong\u003e: Elegant print editions presenting the complete, unabridged text, ideal for your bookshelf.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eEbook\u003c\/strong\u003e: DRM-free EPUB compatible with Kindle, Kobo, Apple Books, and all major e-readers.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAudiobook\u003c\/strong\u003e: Professionally narrated, complete and unabridged, perfect for immersive listening.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eA beautifully crafted collection for lovers of masterful short fiction, exotic settings, and penetrating insight into the human heart, or the perfect gift for anyone who appreciates timeless tales of adventure and moral complexity.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"auto\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eW. Somerset Maugham\u003c\/strong\u003e (1874–1965) was a British playwright, novelist, and short story writer, regarded as one of the greatest storytellers of his era. A master of lucid, witty prose and penetrating character studies, his works—including \u003cem\u003eOf Human Bondage\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eThe Moon and Sixpence\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eCakes and Ale\u003c\/em\u003e, and the short story collections \u003cem\u003eThe Trembling of a Leaf\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eAshenden\u003c\/em\u003e—have delighted readers for over a century. Trained as a doctor, Maugham drew from his extensive travels and sharp observations of human nature to create enduring literature of love, adventure, and the human condition.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Casa Carlini","offers":[{"title":"Audiobook","offer_id":54770923274612,"sku":null,"price":0.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Ebook","offer_id":54770923307380,"sku":null,"price":9.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":54770923340148,"sku":null,"price":15.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Hardcover","offer_id":54770923372916,"sku":null,"price":19.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0988\/5561\/6884\/files\/The_Trembling_Of_A_Leaf_W_Somerset_Maugham_Ebook_1.jpg?v=1781054709"}],"url":"https:\/\/casacarlini.com\/collections\/perfectly-polite-lives-quietly-falling-apart.oembed","provider":"Casa Carlini","version":"1.0","type":"link"}