"The Blade" was published in 1944 and was Maugham's first novel after coming to the United States in 1940. The protagonist Larry is a product of the First World War, and the era he reflects—the era between the two wars—is the twilight era of Eurocentrism. Larry read extensively in Paris and learned several languages, but Paris and France only became his midway islands; what he finally brought to Canada was neither the Catholicism that Father Ensham wanted to bring him back to the pen as a lost lamb, nor the mysticism he wanted to learn from the Polish miner Costi, but the Vedas philosophy of India.
Reader comments
I especially like the character of Larry. His continuous exploration on the road to pursue the truth makes me think about the meaning of life. The various philosophical thoughts in the book are also very interesting, especially the discussion of Indian Vedas philosophy, which brought me a lot of inspiration. I recommend you read it, I believe you will gain something different.
"The razor is sharp, and it is difficult to get better. There are clouds among wise people, but few are saved."
The characters are so vivid and the analysis of human nature is so profound. Perhaps the greatest satisfaction in life is spiritual satisfaction just like Larry.
I especially like the character of Larry. His continuous exploration on the road to pursue the truth makes me think about the meaning of life. The various philosophical thoughts in the book are also very interesting, especially the discussion of Indian Vedas philosophy, which brought me a lot of inspiration. I recommend you read it, I believe you will gain something different.
"The razor is sharp, and it is difficult to get better. There are clouds among wise people, but few are saved." The characters are so vivid and the analysis of human nature is so profound. Perhaps the greatest satisfaction in life is spiritual satisfaction just like Larry.