A Review of short story The Luncheon by W S Maugham

A detailed Summary of A Review of short story The Luncheon by W S Maugham

W S Maugham was young and naive, and was living in Paris, some twenty years from the time of writing this striking short story with a twist of irony. His first literary works were just published. Like any young writer, he craved for admiration. And that's what he got when he received a fan mail from a lady, lavishly praising one of his just published works. He was elated and wrote back thanking her. Then he receives a letter from the same admirer stating that she was passing through Paris and was interested to have a chat with the author. As she had a busy schedule and suggested that author might consider treating her with a little luncheon at Foyot's on the following Thursday when she would be free.

Fyot's is plush and expensive up scale restaurant in Paris where the French senators eat - meaning it was a place for the elite's and a struggling writer like Maugham can never dream of eating at such place. He had only eighty francs to sustain him through the month and a modest luncheon, he thought, would not cost more than fifteen francs. This deficit of fifteen francs could be adjusted by refraining from taking daily coffee for two weeks.

Being flattered by the attention being showered on him by the la

The bill of fare was brought and Maugham was surprised to find the prices were much higher than he had anticipated. But she reassured him by saying " I never eat anything for luncheon". The author thought that the statement was earnest and out of mere courtesy insisted her to have some thing. She said she never had more than one thing and suggested a little fish - and categorically Salmon.

some giant asparagus, which was highly expensive and sumptuous. His heart sank and he, being a gentleman, asked the waiter if they had any of those asparagus. But he prayed earnestly for a negative answer. And a smiling waiter answered in affirmative and added that it was indeed very large, tender and ' it was a marvel'

Later she also took coffee and ice cream. The author was, by this time, nonchalant. Her comment was again an irony- one should always get up from meal feeling a little hungry.she reiterated that she never ate more than one thing for luncheon.

Some common words found in the essay are:
Paris French, REVIEW Maugham, standard reply, fifteen francs, twist irony, item luncheon, mutton chop,

Approximate Word count = 1107
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English

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