The Razor's Edge

Brief Overview

The Razor's Edge is a novel by English author Somerset Maugham, first published in 1944. The story revolves around a young American, Larry Darrell, who, after participating in World War I, seeks spiritual meaning and self-fulfillment. Leaving behind his fiancée Isabel and rejecting material wealth and social recognition, Larry travels through Europe and India, exploring various philosophical and religious teachings in an attempt to understand the essence of life and achieve inner enlightenment. Through the characters and their intertwined destinies, Maugham addresses themes of love, passion, sacrifice, and the pursuit of personal happiness, emphasizing the eternal struggle between spiritual quests and material values.