W. Somerset Maugham
speaker
1,790 appearances
1 recordings
1 series
first heard Sep 2026
last heard 8 Sep
W. Somerset Maugham’s voice in public audio — every appearance, attributed to the second.
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recordings per month · last 12 monthsRecordings per month over the last 12 months — 1 in all, peaking in Sep 2026 with 1.
Appearances
A tale of the Great Quake
One glorious morning after the great earthquake of october twenty first, eighteen sixty eight had with some difficulty shaken me into my trousers and boots.
I left the house and
I may as well state that I left it immediately, and by an aperture constructed for another purpose.
Arrived in the street, I at once betook myself to saving people.
This I did by remarking closely the occurrence of other shocks, giving the alarm and setting in a gazample, fit to be followed by
The example was followed, but owing to the vigour with which it was set was seldom overtaken.
In passing down Clay Street I observed an old rickety brick boarding house.
Which seemed to be just on the point of
Of honouring the demands of the earthquake upon its resources.
The last shock had subsided, but the building was slowly and composedly settling into the ground.
As the third story came down to my level, I observed in one of the front rooms a young and lovely female in white, standing at a door, trying to get out.
She couldn't, for the door was locked.
I saw her through the keyhole.
With a single blow of my heel, I opened that door and opened my arms at the same time.
Thank God, cried I, I have arrived in time.
Come to these arms.
The lady in white stopped, drew out an eye glass, placed it carefully upon her nose, and taking an inventory of me from head to foot, replied No, thank you.
I prefer to come to grief in the regular way.
While the pleasing tones of her voice were still ringing in my ears, I noticed a puff of smoke rising from near my left toe.
Showing 581–600 of 1,790 · page 30 of 90
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