I read this story when I was 9 years old (I am now 63). It's so wonderful to hear it, after all this time. It reminds me of a popular poster from the 70s: "If you love something, set it free. If it returns to you, it's yours. If it doesn't, it never was."
As a fan of Somerset Maugham, particularly his plays and short stories set in warmer climes, I was very interested to hear this as I don’t remember coming across it before. I was so charmed and amused by it that I looked up its history, which was fascinating. The moral of the story feels quite modern, but is presented as if it is ancient in origin. I was reminded of a song about a bird in a gilded cage which was popular 20 years before this story was written, and I was also reminded of Angela Lansbury when young singing her Music Hall song in The Picture of Dorian Gray. So the idea of this story is not particularly novel, but the execution of the story is beautiful. I can’t help wondering if it had a special meaning for Maugham. Did he feel himself trapped in a golden cage, unable to be free? I was also reminded of Oscar Wilde’s collection The Happy Prince.
Love Somerset maugham short stories and Please what is the theme music to this story ? . The music is very familiar but i am in my late eighties and having difficulty with my memory. I would be grateful if some would tell me. Thsnk you.
A charming story - one might almost fancy he had written it with love for his daughter, just as Kipling did for his children. However, he did disown her and deny paternity so that he could leave his inheritance to a fancy boy and was thwarted by a long ugly court case
I read this story when I was 9 years old (I am now 63). It's so wonderful to hear it, after all this time. It reminds me of a popular poster from the 70s: "If you love something, set it free. If it returns to you, it's yours. If it doesn't, it never was."
Beautiful story. I am so relieved that the Princess gave her bird his freedom. ❤
Beautiful thanks
I think that this is probably the most beautiful story ever ❤
What a lovely story and beautiful music in the end ❤️
Super lovely story. I am very grateful to have heard this word picture with the underlying philosophy.
The simple truth of unconditional love ❤️
As a fan of Somerset Maugham, particularly his plays and short stories set in warmer climes, I was very interested to hear this as I don’t remember coming across it before. I was so charmed and amused by it that I looked up its history, which was fascinating. The moral of the story feels quite modern, but is presented as if it is ancient in origin. I was reminded of a song about a bird in a gilded cage which was popular 20 years before this story was written, and I was also reminded of Angela Lansbury when young singing her Music Hall song in The Picture of Dorian Gray. So the idea of this story is not particularly novel, but the execution of the story is beautiful. I can’t help wondering if it had a special meaning for Maugham. Did he feel himself trapped in a golden cage, unable to be free? I was also reminded of Oscar Wilde’s collection The Happy Prince.
Great short stories.
Yes, great stories. This one with a message? Excellent
Love Somerset maugham short stories and
Please what is the theme music to this story ? . The music is very familiar but i am in my late eighties and having difficulty with my memory. I would be grateful if some would tell me. Thsnk you.
Thank you 🙏
A charming story - one might almost fancy he had written it with love for his daughter, just as Kipling did for his children.
However, he did disown her and deny paternity so that he could leave his inheritance to a fancy boy and was thwarted by a long ugly court case
Very modern story framed in a dort of fairly tale from long ago ...
To my taste, Maugham is way better at this kind of story than Hans Christian Andersen.
Silly story