Cakes and Ale

or The Skeleton in the Cupboard

Cakes and Ale is a delicious satire of London literary society between the Wars. Social climber Alroy Kear is flattered when he is selected by Edward Driffield’s wife to pen the official biography of her lionized novelist husband, and determined to write a bestseller. But then Kear discovers the great novelist’s voluptuous muse (and unlikely first wife), Rosie. The lively, loving heroine once gave Driffield enough material to last a lifetime, but now her memory casts an embarrassing shadow over his career and respectable image. Wise, witty, deeply satisfying, Cakes and Ale is Maugham at his best.

"[Maugham] is a master for creating the appetite for information, of withholding it until the right moment, and then providing it surprisingly."—Evelyn Waugh

©1930 Doubleday & Company, Inc. (P)1987 Recorded Books

Story

I loved the introduction. The sweep of the story, and the protagonist. Excellent characters and development

A look at infidelity and the creative spark

Infidelity and inspiration during a writer's career are explored. A tragedy is revealed to be the cause of both.

Great character, a little slow towards the end

but still gratifying. narration is a perfect match for the tale. a soothing, thoughtful listen. recommended.

Masterful and sensitive

The protagonist struggles to keep the secret memory alive of the real, human persons he knew in the face of a great man’s oppressive legacy-makers.

It stunk.

Boring, boring, and then boring still. Let’s go over it one more time, this bores.