Project Gutenberg 2014-12-03 Public domain in the USA. 208 Maugham, W. Somerset (William Somerset) 1874 1965 Maugham, William Somerset Maugham, Somerset The Bishop's Apron: A study in the origins of a great family Produced by Chuck Greif and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net "The Bishop's Apron: A Study in the Origins of a Great Family" by W. Somerset Maugham is a fictional narrative written in the early 20th century. The story revolves around the family dynamics and ambitions of the Spratte family, particularly focusing on Canon Theodore Spratte as he aspires for a bishopric while balancing his relationships with his brother, Lord Spratte, and his children, especially Winnie, who is navigating her feelings towards a young socialist named Bertram Railing. At the start of the novel, readers are introduced to the Spratte family through a scene that takes place during a luncheon. The atmosphere is light yet filled with banter as Canon Spratte discusses the potential for a bishopric following the recent death of a bishop. We get a glimpse into the characters’ personalities, such as the pompous and self-assured Canon Spratte and the lively Lord Spratte, who juxtaposes the seriousness of their lineage with humor. The dialogue hints at the power struggles and social aspirations entwined with the family's history while setting up the familial and societal expectations that will drive the plot forward. The opening establishes a foundation of themes that include ambition, family loyalty, and social class, all of which are expressed through Maugham's witty characterizations and sharp observations. (This is an automatically generated summary.) Reading ease score: 83.2 (6th grade). Easy to read. en Clergy -- England -- Fiction England -- Social life and customs -- Fiction Families -- Fiction PR Text Category: Novels Category: British Literature 432616 2025-07-19T07:08:49.564267 text/html 417296 2024-10-24T12:41:41 text/html 184593 2025-07-19T07:08:55.083232 application/epub+zip 191937 2025-07-19T07:08:50.384277 application/epub+zip 191937 2025-07-19T07:08:49.931260 application/epub+zip 335334 2025-07-19T07:08:58.842294 application/x-mobipocket-ebook 306002 2025-07-19T07:08:54.724278 application/x-mobipocket-ebook 305882 2022-09-21T15:01:06.269472 application/x-mobipocket-ebook 404876 2025-07-19T07:08:48.645272 text/plain; charset=us-ascii 384907 2024-10-24T12:41:41 text/plain; charset=us-ascii 17689 2025-07-19T07:08:58.966213 application/rdf+xml 15535 2025-07-19T07:08:50.008281 image/jpeg 2724 2025-07-19T07:08:49.969258 image/jpeg 176080 2025-07-19T07:08:49.598292 application/octet-stream application/zip Archives containing the RDF files for *all* our books can be downloaded at https://book.klll.cc/wiki/Gutenberg:Feeds#The_Complete_Project_Gutenberg_Catalog en.wikipedia