Of Human Bondage
Broadcast: 29th October 1948
Added: Aug 22 2013
This Somerset Maugham classic is masterpiece of human struggle against societal prejudices, the conscience and the self. Following the development of the central character, the orphan Philip Carey, this presentation introduces us to him much later in life than the novel. Carey enters the phase in his life where he has chosen a medical profession and where (as an adult) his fears and bitterness are well developed. One of the beauties of works such as this is the correlation with our own lives, we do not need to be Philip Carey to see something of ourselves in him yet nevertheless how many of us would deny hearing our own voice in him.
The radio show must by the time constraints alone miss much of the material presented in the book but the hour-long drama never failed to draw me into the life of Philip Carey because this semi-biographical novel is simply one of the most important classics of all time and nothing short of reading it in full can ever compare. The same must now be said for making an attempt at reviewing this work. Essentially this is the story of a human being, a decent person who never seems lucky enough to reach the simple goals he sets himself. A man who is rarely strengthened by life's cruel knocks and who although bounces back repeatedly seems to carry the wounds of his previous battles... not so much as medals or even lessons-learned but more as burdens.
If you wish to spend an hour of 'entertainment' then there are thousands of shows here that will do that and more. If however you want an experience then listen to this adaptation of Somerset Maugham's timeless classic, "Of Human Bondage."
It may make you want to read the book... in fact I'm sure it will.