Up at the Villa

Maugham is arguably one of the underrated authors of the 20th century, and although much of the language and morés captured in this novella seem evidently dated, the art of storytelling is just superb. It takes a certain skill in any author to infer so much relevant backstory in such a short space to make the actions narrated both plausible and compelling. The mostly placid life of Mary Panton — it is from her perspective that we see the events described — unravels owing to a chance and impetuous decision. There is a suicide with which to deal (including the slightly comedic disposal of a dead body), the rejection of a proposal of marriage, and the elopement (potentially; it is never quantified) with the rogue anti-hero. The broad subject matter concerns itself with honour, loyalty and love, not dissimilar to Wharton's The Age of Innocence. Should we (Mary) do what society expects; or be ruled by our heart rather than our head? The melodrama is at times excessive, but Maugham achieves the outcome most readers want and expect.

By Somerset Maugham