The Razor's Edge

The search for meaning. A journey beyond wealth and convention.

In The Razor's Edge, W. Somerset Maugham tells the story of Larry Darrell, a young American pilot who returns from World War I disillusioned with the materialistic world of 1920s Chicago high society. Rejecting a life of comfort, wealth, and a promising marriage, Larry embarks on a spiritual quest that takes him from Paris to India in search of truth, enlightenment, and inner peace. Meanwhile, his friends and acquaintances pursue success, pleasure, and social status, each facing their own forms of emptiness and disappointment.

With his signature elegance, sharp observation, and philosophical depth, Maugham explores the eternal conflict between the spiritual and the material, the search for meaning in a modern world, and the price of nonconformity.

Formats and delivery

• Paperback — Elegant print edition presenting the complete, unabridged text. Ships in 3–5 business days.
• Hardcover — Elegant print edition presenting the complete, unabridged text. Ships in 5–7 business days.
• EPUB — DRM-free, compatible with Kindle, Kobo, Apple Books, and all major e-readers. Instant download after purchase.
• Audiobook — Professionally narrated, complete and unabridged. Available on Audible, Spotify, Apple Books.

About the Author

W. Somerset Maugham (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 Of Human Bondage, The Moon and Sixpence, Cakes and Ale, and The Painted Veil—have delighted readers for over a century.