A Man of Honour. A Tragedy in Four Acts (1911)

A Man of Honour. A Tragedy in Four Acts (1911)

Maugham, W. Somerset (William Somerset), 1874-1965

William Heinemann

1911-12 [title page reads 1912]

Maugham reworks this story into The Merry-Go-Round, published as a novel a year later, with more intricate plots and more characters. The emotions of Basil, Jenny, and Mrs. Murray are more developed in the novel, as the length allows. Then, the Basil-Jenny relationship is later revisited in Of Human Bondage and becomes the unforgettable Philip-Mildred duo, which is no longer so much about self-righteousness and honour, but human obsession and the loss of self-control. It is interesting to see how Maugham rewrites his characters turning them over the years into more mature ones, rounding them up to suit his fuller understanding of the human condition.

The real first edition of A Man of Honour was published in 1903 by Chapman and Hall, only 150 copies exist. At the same time it was published as a supplement to The Fortnightly Review.

The play itself was written much earlier, in Rome in 1898. Then came the 1912 Heinemann edition. As Stott warns and explains in great details, the later edition (same for several other plays) by the Dramatic Publishing Company is posterior to Heinemann's, although the year registered on the copyright page is 1903.

Summary:
Basil Kent, a well-educated gentleman, marries Jenny Bush, a barmaid, after he gets her pregnant. Although he does not love her, he thinks that it is the right thing to do. His heart belongs to another, a Mrs. Murray, a widow of the same class as his. The marriage turns out to be a disaster and it is a living hell for the unmatched couple. Basil is tormented by his regrets and his love for Mrs. Murray. It is too late when he recognizes the mistake he has made, against all worldly advice and common sense, blinded by his high morality. Nevertheless, the one who suffers most at the end is Jenny, who commits suicide when she sees that there is no way for her to gain Basil's love. Basil is left a free man. The play is left open-ended, presumably it would be too much for the social sensibility at that time to see Basil united with Mrs. Murray on stage and live happily ever after.

Characters:
Basil Kent
Jenny Bush
James Bush
John Halliwell
Mabel Hilda Murray
Robert Brackley
Mrs. Griggs
Fanny
Butler

Collation:
p. [ii] THE NOVELS OF W. S. MAUGHAM, p. [iii] half title, p.[iv] ads., p. [v] title, p. [vi] copyright,, p. [vii] "TO GERALD KELLY", p. [viii] epigraph, p. ix-xii PREFACE, p. xiii cast, p. xv CHARACTERS, p. xvi performing rights, 158 pages

18 x 12.5 cm, hardcover

English drama (Tragedy) -- 20th century.

Stott A6b

MMC_P_MH1912WH

Text

Public domain

en

The story was rewritten as a part of the novel The Merry-Go-Round.

First Edition [The real first edition of A Man of Honour was published in 1903 by Chapman and Hall, only 150 copies exist. At the same time it was published as a supplement to The Fortnightly Review.]

London

Print book

Play

Cherry buckram

No

2013

2s. 6d. in 1911, 1,500 copies