TheatreTheatre
Score Classic
What it's about
Julia Lambert is the greatest actress on the London stage, married to her handsome manager, and at forty-six she's grown a little bored. When a shy young accountant falls in love with her, she begins an affair that makes her feel young again, until he turns his attention to a young actress. Julia gets her revenge the way she knows best: on stage.
Why it's worth reading
It spent weeks at #1 on the New York Times list. It's witty and wicked, one of Maugham's own favorites, and became the film Being Julia with Annette Bening.
You'll love it if you liked
The Razor's Edge
Of Human Bondage
The Age of InnocenceGood to know
It's light and quick. Julia can never stop performing, even for herself.
By the numbers
- Readers75 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller33 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
Why it made the list
Reads as
Moving
More by Somerset Maugham
If you like this, read next
Lonesome Dove
Pride and Prejudice
Sophie's Choice
Rebecca
The Brothers Karamazov
The Thorn BirdsExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is Theatre worth reading?
Yes. It spent weeks at #1 on the New York Times list. It ranks #1,245 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 70.5 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Theatre about?
Julia Lambert is the greatest actress on the London stage, married to her handsome manager, and at forty-six she's grown a little bored. When a shy young accountant falls in love with her, she begins an affair that makes her feel young again, until he turns his attention to a young actress. Julia gets her revenge the way she knows best: on stage.
How long does it take to read Theatre?
About 7 hours (293 pages), or about 2 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Theatre?
If you liked it, try The Razor's Edge by Somerset Maugham, Of Human Bondage by W. Somerset Maugham or The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton.