Rain and Other South Sea Stories

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by W. Somerset Maugham

W. Somerset Maugham had a variety of lives, including that of a slum doctor, a prominent playwright and author, a British Intelligence operative during Global War I, and a world wanderer. In 1917, he embarked on the first of several trips to the Pacific Islands and the Far East, where he found inspiration for some of his best work.

One of Maugham's most renowned stories, about a missionary and a prostitute, is included in Rain and Other South Sea Stories. "Rain" was adapted for the stage and filmed three times, with Gloria Swanson, Joan Crawford, and Rita Hayworth playing the starring roles. "Macintosh," a psychological study of two officials' competition; "The Fall of Edward Barnard," a story of social rebellion that foreshadows The Razor's Edge; "The Pool," a portrait of a marriage between people from different cultures; and other compelling stories of life in the tropics are also included in this collection.

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Is that what we come into the world for, to hurry to an office, and work hour after hour till night, then hurry home and dine and go to a theatre? Is that how I must spend my youth? Youth lasts so short a time, Bateman. And when I am old, what have I to look forward to? To hurry from my home in the morning to my office and work hour after hour after hour till night, and then hurry home again, and dine and go to a theatre? That may be worthwhile if you make a fortune; I don’t know, it depends on your nature; but if you don’t, is it worth while then? I want to make more out of my life than that, Bateman.

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Is that what we come into the world for, to hurry to an office, and work hour after hour till night, then hurry home and dine and go to a theatre? Is that how I must spend my youth? Youth lasts so short a time, Bateman. And when I am old, what have I to look forward to? To hurry from my home in the morning to my office and work hour after hour after hour till night, and then hurry home again, and dine and go to a theatre? That may be worthwhile if you make a fortune; I don’t know, it depends on your nature; but if you don’t, is it worth while then? I want to make more out of my life than that, Bateman.

— W. Somerset Maugham, Rain and Other South Sea Stories