A collection of 24 stories, including "The Alien Corn", about an aspiring pianist who commits suicide when told he will never be better than second rate, and "Rain", characteristic of Somerset Maugham's style in its evocation of the atmosphere of hot, wet, tropical Samoa, and nea...

A collection of 24 stories, including "The Alien Corn", about an aspiring pianist who commits suicide when told he will never be better than second rate, and "Rain", characteristic of Somerset Maugham's style in its evocation of the atmosphere of hot, wet, tropical Samoa, and neat twist of plot.