Liza of Lambeth (1897)

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> > Liza of Lambeth (1897) > Liza of Lambeth," Maugham's literary debut, is a less accomplished and complex novel than later masterpieces such as "The Razor's Edge" and "The Moon and Sixpence." Nevertheless, this novel is well worth the read. > Down among the drab slums of Lambeth, eighteen-year-old Liza is the darling of Vere Street. Vibrant and bewitching, she has found an adoring if conventional beau in Tom. When she meets Jim Blakeston, a married man new to the area, she is immediately magnetized by his attentions. Her friend tells her Jim is a person who will likely hit her when they would marry. She’s very naïve, didn’t anticipate that the streets are wise to their illicit, passionate affair and before long the secret is out. She struggles as she works in a factory and helps her alcoholic mother. Liza is a bit of a social butterfly in the neighborhood and is well-liked until she garners the attention of married man Jim. This connection grows with tragic consequences. > Liza rejects the person who is nice and will be good to her, and wants to date a married man; a sure way of getting yourself into trouble in her time, place and with her social status. Liza happily lets herself be exploited by her cold mother (she doesn’t care about L’s death but is only worried about getting her buried) who is lazy and grumpy and lets her do all the chores. The people in the neighbourhood start bullying her when they know about the affair and don’t help pregnant Liza when she’s beaten up by Jim’s wife in the streets. > Assessment of Liza’s character: Self Sacrificing Style, Riso’s type 2w1. > Jan

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