Books Quote by W. Somerset Maugham
““I feel it right to warn the reader that he can very well skip this chapter without losing the thread of such story as I have to tell, since for the most part it is nothing more than the account of a conversation that I had with Larry. I should add, however, that except for this conversation I should perhaps not have thought it worth while to write this book.””
About This Quote
Source Book: Of Human Bondage, W. Somerset Maugham, 1915
The author warns readers they can skip a chapter without losing the story because it mainly recounts a personal conversation.
In simple terms: Chapter is optional, mostly a personal anecdote.
Key Takeaway
Read if interested in the conversation.
Themes
literature
authorial intent
structure
Mood
reflective
analytical
Type
explanatory
critical
When to use this quote
- academic study
- reading groups
- author interviews
- literary analysis
- book clubs
Key Concepts
narrative
dialogue
exposition
Questions to Reflect On
- Is the conversation essential to understanding the narrator?
- What does the author’s disclaimer reveal about his view of the chapter?
A Different Perspective
Skipping may cause loss of subtle context or character insight.
