Q.5Write a review of the story The Luncheon in your own words.(5)
Answers
The Luncheon' is a famous short story of William Somerset Maugham. ... She wins the author's favor and expresses her wish to meet him at a high-class restaurant for the luncheon. William beautifully exposes the fake modest eating habits, of the middle- class people with a touch of humour.
Answer:
‘The Luncheon’ is a famous short story of William
Somerset Maugham. The word “luncheon” means “a
light midday meal” in Middle English language. This
short story is about a lady of forty years age who is a
fan of his writing. She wins the author’s favor and
expresses her wish to meet him at a high-class
restaurant for the luncheon. William beautifully
exposes the fake modest eating habits, of the middleclass people with a touch of humour. Twenty years
ago, when the author was living in Paris, a lady admirer
of his writings came to meet him. She had met him
previously at a play and relates to him that old meeting
incident during the interval which had occurred at that
time. She had recently read a book written by him and
had written a letter to tell him about her views on the
book. Another letter was posted by the lady, stating
about her proposed visit to Paris and her desire to have
a little luncheon at the Foyots, a restaurant where
French congressmen eat. William was a humble not so
rich man and had never even an iota of thought of
visiting that restaurant, nor did he possess the art of
declining the request of her lady admirer.
Since the author has only eighty francs in his pocket for
the rest of the month, he anxiously estimates the cost
of a luncheon, which should not cost more than fifteen
Francs in his opinion, he decided to cut down coffee
from his menu, so that he could have saved enough for
himself for the next two weeks. His meeting with the
lady was fixed on Thursday, at half-past twelve,
through the letter. The lady was in her Forties, very
talkative, and not attractive. However, his lady friend
reassured him, “I never eat anything for luncheon” She
had ordered for Salmon, and Caviar, while the Salmon
was being in the process of cooking. William had
ordered for the cheapest dish available on menu
mutton- chops. After the meal, the lady had ordered
white champagne. She was enjoying the luncheon, and
chitchat about art, literature, and music, while William
was in deep thinking about the amount of bill. The bill
was above his anticipation. When the bill of the
luncheon came she waived towards the waiter with an
air of gesture and ordered for Asparagus, most
expensive item on the menu. William’s heart sank, his
mouth watered, and yet he had to repress
hisemotions. Adding salt on the wound, she ordered
for ice-cream and then coffee, all stating with a line
that ‘she never ate anything for luncheon – just a bite’.
William was thinking in his mind about how he was
going to pay the bill or how could he pretend an act of
his pick-pocketing.
To his bad luck, the head waiter walked up to the table
with a large basket full of fresh huge Peaches. She
picked up one stating that “I’ve just had a snack and I
shall enjoy a peach.” After paying the bill William found
himself with just three Francs for the tip of waiter, and
not even a single penny left in his pocket for the whole
month. In the end, William believes, that he had had
his revenge for this when after Twenty years he met
this only light luncheon eating lady “weighs one
hundred and thirty-three kilograms.”
PLEASE MARK ME AS THE BRAINLIEST:)