Cakes and Ale · Chapters
Chapters explained
Chapter companions for Cakes and Ale by W. Somerset Maugham.
Chapter 1
I
The narrator reflects on the character and career of Alroy Kear, a successful but mediocre novelist. Kear is depicted as a sincere, hardworking, and ambitious writer who ingratiates himself with critics and fellow authors through flattery and hospitality. The chapter explores the nature of his success, his modesty, and the compromises inherent in his literary career.
Chapter 2
II
The narrator has lunch with Roy Kear at his club, where Roy tries to persuade him to write his recollections of the late Edward Driffield. The narrator is skeptical of Driffield's literary merit, while Roy defends him passionately. Roy reveals that Driffield's widow, Mrs. Driffield, sent messages to the narrator, and the conversation turns to Driffield's first wife, Rosie, whom Roy believes was 'dreadfully common' and unfaithful. The narrator remains noncommittal, and the chapter ends with Roy walking him out, pressing for more information about Rosie.
Chapter 3
III
The narrator reflects on his past in Blackstable, triggered by his conversation with Roy Kear and the atmosphere of his room. He recalls his uncle, a vicar, and his German aunt, and the social strictures of the time. He remembers his first encounter with Edward Driffield, who was then considered a somewhat disreputable figure, and contrasts the dullness of provincial life with the present.
Chapter 4
IV
The narrator visits Edward Driffield at his home in Blackstable, accompanied by Lady Hodmarsh, the Duchess, and Lord Scallion. They are received by Mrs. Driffield, who has arranged a tasteful, respectable household. Driffield, now old and frail, seems to recognize the narrator with subtle winks, but his wife and the vicar's wife caution against recalling old memories. The visit includes a tour of Driffield's study, which feels more like a memorial than a workspace. At departure, Driffield mentions teaching the narrator to ride a bicycle, hinting at their shared past.
Chapter 5
VI
The narrator resolves to go out with the Driffields despite his uncle's likely disapproval. When his uncle walks with him, Ted Driffield boldly approaches and asks permission for the narrator to join him on a ride to make brass rubbings. The uncle, distracted by the offer to pay for materials, inadvertently allows the outing.
Chapter 6
VII
The narrator reflects on his summer with the Driffields, their unconventional past, and the social discomfort their frankness causes him. He learns more about Rosie's history as a barmaid and her casual friendship with Mary-Ann, which challenges his notions of propriety.
Chapter 7
Chapter VIII
The weather turns cold and rainy, ending the narrator's excursions with the Driffields. The narrator is troubled by having witnessed Mrs. Driffield's intimate meeting with Lord George Kemp, imagining dark secrets and blackmail. He sees the Driffields once more before returning to school, where they see him off at the station. Later, during the Christmas holidays, he visits them and finds them entertaining the curate and Lord George, with Driffield singing comic songs. The narrator also encounters the 'New Woman' at a tea party, and reflects on the social attitudes of Blackstable.
Chapter 8
IX
The narrator spends his Christmas holidays at the Driffields' house, playing whist with Mrs. Driffield, Lord George Kemp, and Mr. Galloway. He enjoys the company and the game, despite the social differences with Lord George, and feels dismay as the holidays end.
Chapter 9
The Flight of the Driffields
The narrator returns to Blackstable for the holidays, eager to see the Driffields, but learns they have fled town, leaving unpaid debts. He is shocked and feels betrayed, while others like Mary-Ann and Lord George Kemp react with amusement. The narrator reflects on the social consequences and his own naivety.
Chapter 10
Chapter XI
The narrator reflects on Edward Driffield's literary reputation, contrasting his early obscurity with his later status as the Grand Old Man of English Letters. He muses on the nature of beauty, the fickleness of critics, and the role of longevity in literary fame. The chapter ends with Alroy Kear's arrival, who interrupts the narrator's reverie.
Chapter 11
Chapter XII
The narrator, prompted by his promise to Roy Kear, revisits his old landlady Mrs. Hudson in Vincent Square, reflecting on his youthful years in London. He recalls her character, her Cockney humour, and the rooms he once inhabited, which now evoke a deep sense of nostalgia and the passage of time.
Chapter 12
Chapter XIII
The narrator, now a medical student in London, unexpectedly encounters Mrs. Driffield on the Vauxhall Bridge Road. She greets him warmly, and they walk to her home in Limpus Road, where he meets Edward Driffield again. The Driffields have established themselves in a furnished house, and Edward is now a literary editor. The narrator is invited to visit on Saturdays, marking the beginning of a new phase in their acquaintance.
Chapter 13
XIV
The narrator describes his regular Saturday visits to the Driffields' home, where he meets various artists and writers. He reflects on the social dynamics, including Rosie's beauty and the admiration she receives from men like Lionel Hillier and Quentin Forde. The chapter also touches on Mrs. Barton Trafford's condescending attitude towards Rosie, and the narrator's own observations about the art world and social class.
Chapter 14
XV
The narrator describes Rosie Driffield's social life with various admirers, including Quentin Forde and Harry Retford, and her preference for simple outings with the narrator to music halls like the Canterbury. He reflects on her beauty, her love of historical gossip, and her intimate, comfortable silence. A conversation with Lionel Hillier reveals Hillier's claim to have 'made' Rosie's beauty through his painting. The chapter culminates in Rosie kissing the narrator on the mouth, a gesture that is affectionate but not passionate, leaving him startled and reflective.
Chapter 15
XVI
The narrator and Rosie Driffield spend an evening together, attending a play, walking through St. James's Park, and sharing a late-night meal. They return to the narrator's rooms, where their intimacy deepens, and the narrator experiences an emotional breakdown. The chapter reflects on the narrator's feelings of loneliness and desire, and includes a meta-commentary on writing in the first person.
Chapter 16
Chapter XVII
The narrator reflects on his year-long affair with Rosie Driffield, marked by secret meetings and a growing sense of possessiveness. His contentment is disrupted by the arrival of Jack Kuyper, a wealthy Dutch Jew who showers Rosie with expensive gifts, including a sable cape worth £260. The narrator's jealousy and mortification reveal his insecurity and the transactional nature of Rosie's relationships, leading him to suspect she has been unfaithful with other men.
Chapter 17
XVIII
The narrator reflects on his growing distance from Driffield as the latter becomes more involved in literary society. Driffield publishes 'The Cup of Life,' which initially receives modest reviews but then sparks a scandal due to a violent attack in a morning paper, leading to widespread condemnation and calls for suppression. Driffield remains philosophically calm, supported by friends like Mrs. Barton Trafford, who declares it a masterpiece. The narrator notes that the book, now read, seems tame by modern standards.
Chapter 18
XIX
Six months after the success of 'The Cup of Life', the narrator receives a telegram from Mrs. Barton Trafford urgently requesting his presence. At her flat, he learns from Allgood Newton that Rosie Driffield has run away with Lord George Kemp. The group, concerned for Edward Driffield's welfare, persuades the narrator to travel to Blackstable to gather information about the situation.
Chapter 19
Chapter XX
The narrator returns to Blackstable to find the town in an uproar over Lord George Kemp's bankruptcy and flight. Rumors circulate that he has run off with Rosie Driffield, leaving his wife and sons destitute. The narrator, who had known of Rosie's affair, feels betrayed and humiliated. He meets with Mrs. Barton Trafford, who is concerned about the impact on Edward Driffield's work, and the chapter ends with the narrator's bitter reflection on Rosie's departure.
Chapter 20
XXI
The narrator loses touch with Driffield after his examinations and travels abroad. He vaguely recalls reading about Driffield's divorce from Rosie. Rosie's mother receives small sums of money from New York, presumed to be from Rosie, but no address or message is included. After Mrs. Gann's death, the letters stop.
Chapter 21
XXII
Alroy Kear and the narrator travel to Blackstable. Kear recounts the aftermath of Rosie's flight, detailing Mrs. Barton Trafford's role in nurturing Driffield's career and reputation, and her reaction to his unexpected remarriage to his nurse.
Chapter 22
XXIII
The narrator and Roy Kear arrive in Blackstable. Roy is picked up by a car with a note inviting the narrator to lunch with Mrs. Driffield the next day. The narrator chooses to stay at the Bear and Key, the inn of his youth, despite Roy's suggestion of the Marine Hotel. He finds the town changed, with an esplanade and bungalows where fields once were, and the inn itself shabby and indifferent. He dines alone and later speaks with Mr. Brentford, the innkeeper, who reminisces about old Driffield's visits to the bar, his fondness for life, and his wife's attempts to fetch him home.
Chapter 23
XXIV
The narrator visits Blackstable, encountering the doctor's son and reflecting on aging and the passage of time. He then lunches with Mrs. Driffield and Roy Kear, where they discuss Edward Driffield's life and the management of his legacy, including the handling of visitors and the house's history.
Chapter 24
XXV
Mrs. Driffield shows the narrator and Roy a portfolio of old photographs of Edward Driffield, including one of Rosie as a bride. The conversation turns to Rosie's character, with Mrs. Driffield and Roy criticizing her, while the narrator defends her, describing her as natural and affectionate. The narrator reflects on Edward's aloofness and the mystery of his inner life. Mrs. Driffield reveals that Rosie married Kemp and died about ten years ago, and that she never told Edward of her death.
Chapter 25
Chapter XXVI
The narrator walks back to Blackstable after visiting Mrs. Driffield, reflecting on his memories of Edward Driffield. He recalls receiving a letter from Rosie Driffield (now Rosie Iggulden) in New York, and visits her at her apartment in Yonkers. They reminisce about the past, and Rosie explains why she ran away with George Kemp, describing him as 'always such a perfect gentleman.' The chapter reveals Rosie's current life and her contentment.
