The House of Doors: Longlisted for the Booker Prize 2023

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A “traveller sitting in the half shadows”, always scavenging for source material, Somerset Maugham would in 1926 turn the Proudlock case into his most well-known short story, The Letter, and later a play as well. This is a beautifully written novel with lush prose and settings that most likely will surprise you.

There is not the slightest stir of wind, and there is no sound, not even the usual petulant bleating of sheep from the valley. I love it when a book makes me want to read about historical events yet still has a great story to it! The House of Doors" is a powerful exploration of the intricacies of human relationships and the lasting impact of historical forces on personal lives, making it a must-read for anyone seeking a captivating and immersive literary experience.

She only comes in once a week these days, and without fail she’ll moan about her painful knees as she cleans the house. This is a fascinatingly layered novel, drawing upon a range of different modes and themes – patriarchy, political turmoil, illicit love affairs and concealed sexuality – with a courtroom drama (based upon real events, which also inspired Maugham’s story ‘The Letter’) at the heart of it. Almost the first 25% of the book is taken up with putting the reader in the setting and in giving an understanding of the background of this time and place. At their residence, Cassowary House, a mile outside George Town, the Hamlyns are used to a variety of guests: actors, singers, MPs and members of the aristocracy.

His new book revolves around a couple’s friendship with author and playwright William Somerset Maugham, set in the 1920s and orbiting the imperial dynasty of China and the unease of Empire. Afterwards he would adjourn to his study to work on his memoirs – he had begun writing them shortly after we moved here. Quick to read, the beauty of the language and the character insight, asIt is 1921 and at Cassowary House in the Straits Settlements of Penang, Robert Hamlyn is a well-to-do lawyer and his steey wife Lesley a society hostess. Parting the mosquito netting, he sat up on the edge of the bed, planting his feet on the floorboards. Resurrecting Somerset Maugham at the height of his fame and exotic travels, The House of Doors is an outstanding instance of this trend.