The Combined Maze


Read by Expatriate

(4.3 stars; 6 reviews)

Ranny Ransome is an idealistic young man, devoted to exuberant gymnastic exercises and to fighting “flabbiness” in his own life, body and soul. He loves the girlish and athletic Winny Dymond, and particularly loves participating with her in the Combined Maze, a choreographed, intricate, exhilarating group gymnastic ritual in which the young men and women of the Polytechnic Gymnasium demonstrate their skills. Unfortunately, Ranny falls under the spell of the seductive Violet, a sexual free spirit who wants nothing more than to live an untrammeled life on her own terms. When, to her astonishment and horror, Violet becomes pregnant, Ranny dutifully marries her against her will, entangling himself and her in a deadly new Combined Maze of social conventions intended to suppress and subdue the elemental passions that give color to Life. May Sinclair draws her readers in with a quiet, unobtrusive, Victorian prose that seems completely in tune with the conventional proprieties of her society, but goes on in the same seditious, unassuming tone to tell stories of sensuality, adultery, seduction, divorce, and betrayal, quietly protesting the smothering conventions of a society that feared passion in all its forms. Ranny’s mesmerizing struggle to maintain his fundamental decency while remaining true to his real love hangs in the balance to the last page. (summary by Expatriate) (9 hr 56 min)

Chapters

Chapter 01 12:46 Read by Expatriate
Chapter 02 17:58 Read by Expatriate
Chapter 03 19:49 Read by Expatriate
Chapter 04 14:13 Read by Expatriate
Chapter 05 26:20 Read by Expatriate
Chapter 06 14:59 Read by Expatriate
Chapter 07 14:35 Read by Expatriate
Chapter 08 16:20 Read by Expatriate
Chapter 09 16:41 Read by Expatriate
Chapter 10 16:42 Read by Expatriate
Chapter 11 8:07 Read by Expatriate
Chapter 12 9:42 Read by Expatriate
Chapter 13 31:54 Read by Expatriate
Chapter 14 12:49 Read by Expatriate
Chapter 15 8:52 Read by Expatriate
Chapter 16 9:04 Read by Expatriate
Chapter 17 21:44 Read by Expatriate
Chapter 18 12:00 Read by Expatriate
Chapter 19 14:38 Read by Expatriate
Chapter 20 24:48 Read by Expatriate
Chapter 21 9:06 Read by Expatriate
Chapter 22 28:46 Read by Expatriate
Chapter 23 16:14 Read by Expatriate
Chapter 24 11:57 Read by Expatriate
Chapter 25a 15:30 Read by Expatriate
Chapter 25b 17:43 Read by Expatriate
Chapter 26a 15:46 Read by Expatriate
Chapter 26b 16:04 Read by Expatriate
Chapter 27 10:46 Read by Expatriate
Chapter 28a 20:00 Read by Expatriate
Chapter 28b 12:31 Read by Expatriate
Chapter 29 27:09 Read by Expatriate
Chapter 30a 21:16 Read by Expatriate
Chapter 30b 19:46 Read by Expatriate
Chapter 31 26:01 Read by Expatriate
Chapter 32 4:02 Read by Expatriate

Reviews


(4 stars)

Gives a picture of early twentieth century social life in England.

1st rate Sinclair


(4 stars)

Typical Sinclair novel. Hits all the right spots. Not quite as emotionally involving as some of her characters, but still a very good read.