Orientations (1899)
Title
Orientations (1899)
Creator
Maugham, W. Somerset (William Somerset), 1874-1965
Publisher
T. Fisher Unwin
Date
1899-06
Description
Stott mentions 3 bindings, and this copy is differentiated by the top gilt edge and the spine with gold letters. It isn't clear whether this is binding (i) or (ii) as the colour, after over a hundred years, is hard to tell.
Stott also mentions a misprint in the whole printing, but the page number he gives is wrong. It should be on p. 63.
I include here two reader's reports on two of the stories in this collection:
"There is some ability in this, but not very much. Mr. Maugham has imagination and he can write prettily, but his satire against Society is not deep enough or humorous enough to command attention. He should be advised to try the humbler magazines for a time, and if he tries anything more important to send it to us" (by Edward Garnett on "A Bad Example," cited in Stott, p. 27).
"In some respects this story is not very artistic. Nevertheless [it] is very effective. It is strong and able, and the end undoubtedly has emotional force. In fact, the story hits one—there is no denying that: we believe the story will hit every reader.... We believe the story will meet with a good reception, and will increase Mr. Maugham's reputation. And we should call it a publisher's mistake for Fisher Unwin to lose an opportunity of issuing a volume of such stories" (by Edward Garnett on "Daisy," cited in Stott, p. 27).
Stott also mentions a misprint in the whole printing, but the page number he gives is wrong. It should be on p. 63.
I include here two reader's reports on two of the stories in this collection:
"There is some ability in this, but not very much. Mr. Maugham has imagination and he can write prettily, but his satire against Society is not deep enough or humorous enough to command attention. He should be advised to try the humbler magazines for a time, and if he tries anything more important to send it to us" (by Edward Garnett on "A Bad Example," cited in Stott, p. 27).
"In some respects this story is not very artistic. Nevertheless [it] is very effective. It is strong and able, and the end undoubtedly has emotional force. In fact, the story hits one—there is no denying that: we believe the story will hit every reader.... We believe the story will meet with a good reception, and will increase Mr. Maugham's reputation. And we should call it a publisher's mistake for Fisher Unwin to lose an opportunity of issuing a volume of such stories" (by Edward Garnett on "Daisy," cited in Stott, p. 27).
TOC:
THE PUNCTILIOUSNESS OF DON SEBASTIAN 3
A BAD EXAMPLE 37
DE AMICITIA 97
FAITH 133
THE CHOICE OF AMYNTAS 165
DAISY 219
Collation:
p. [i] half-title, p. [ii] advertisements, "NOVELS AT SIX SHILLINGS EACH", p. [iii] title, p. [iv] copyright, "[All Rights reserved]", p. [v] dedication, "To MRS EDWARD JOHNSTON" [wife of the British vice-consul in Seville], p. [vii] TOC "CONTENTS", p. [viii] epigraph in French written by Maugham, 278 pages
Format
21 x 13 cm, hardcover
Subject
Short Stories, English
Identifier
Stott A3a
MMC_S_O1899TFU
Type
Text
Rights
Public domain
Language
en
fr (epigraph)
Image
Edition
First edition, first issue
Publisher's Location
London
Format
Print book
Genre
Short stories
Cover
#172221 (Bunker)
Dust Jacket
No
Provenance
Mudie's Library
Year of Acquisition
2010
Original Cost
6s. in 1899, 2,000 copies
Collection
Citation
Maugham, W. Somerset (William Somerset), 1874-1965, “Orientations (1899),” My Maugham Collection, accessed April 28, 2024, https://mymaughamcollection.omeka.net/items/show/6.