The Razor's Edge

The Razor's Edge, by W. Somerset Maugham, first published by Doubleday Doran in the United States in 1944, relates the experiences of a World War I pilot, Larry Darrell, who chooses to embrace a counter-cultural lifestyle as a way of dealing with his PTSD, though the syndrome is of course not identified as such in the book. This book challenges the cultural ideals of the 1940s, and disregards the stereotype of the returning military hero. Some controversy surrounded the publication of this book because of its lack of patriotic fervor and its embrace of bohemian ideals, but today it is regarded as one of the more important pieces of American literature from the 1940s. -

The first printing remains highly collectible, and well kept copies are often sold for several thousand dollars (US). This signed limited edition of the book was printed with only 750 numbered copies, and features a red cover, with a black leather spine label with gilt lettering. First U.S. editions often show severe darkening and wear to the spine, and this flaw will lower the price dramatically, even with the author's signature. The Razor's Edge was also published in the U.K. by William Heinemann the same year. For this edition the printing is of much lower quality, though signed copies of this printing in good condition still are valued above $1,000 USD. This edition commonly shows print smuding, chipped edges and tanned pages. The spine is often in poor condition. An original copy of the screenplay for the movie starring Tyrone Power is also highly collectible.