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5
student’s painful progress toward maturity; “The Moon and Sixpence”
(1919), an account of an unconventional artist, suggested by the life of
Paul Gauguin; “Cakes and Ale” (1930), the story of a famous novelist,
which is thought to contain caricatures of Thomas Hardy and Hugh
Walpole; and “The Razor’s Edge” (1944), the story of a young Ameri-
can war veteran’s quest for a satisfying way of life.
In his works, Maugham mainly portrays the conflict of Europeans
in alien surroundings that provoke strong emotions. The readers are at-
tracted by Maugham’s skill in handling plot, in the manner of Guy de
Maupassant.
Maugham’s philosophy of life is explained in “The Summing
Up” (1938) and “A Writer’s Notebook (1949)”.
Maugham is impartial to his characters. They are neither all good
nor all bad. “I cannot bring myself to judge my fellows; I am content to
observe them. My observation has led me to believe that, all in all, there
is not so much difference between the good and the bad as the moralists
would have us believe … There is not much to choose between men.
They are all a hotchpotch of greatness and littleness, of virtue and vice,
of nobility and baseness… Selfishness and kindness, idealism and sen-
suality, vanity, shyness, disinterestedness, courage, laziness, nervous-
ness, obstinacy and diffidence; they can all exist in a single person and
form a plausible harmony”.
Somerset Maugham triumphed not only as a novelist but as a
short-story writer as well. He produced some of the finest stories in
modern English literature. They are usually very sincere, interesting,
well-constructed and logically developed. No matter how many times
you read them, they always give you the same feeling of freshness and
excitement that you experienced on the first reading.
Many of Maugham’s stories are set in foreign lands where the au-
thor was as easily at home as he was in his native England. They were
inspired by his travels in China, Malaya, Borneo, Siam and many other
countries.
Maugham believes that the charm of a story lies in its interesting
plot and exciting situation, but we cannot share this opinion: his own
6
stories, though they are indeed interesting and exciting, at the same time
convey deep thought, keen observation and sharpness of characteriza-
tion. These very qualities assure Maugham an outstanding place in the
annals of literature and in the hearts of all who love good stories.
His most popular stories are Rain, The Unconquered, Gigolo and
Gigolette, The Man with the Scar, The Luncheon.
A realistic portrayal of life, keen character observation, interest-
ing plots coupled with beautiful, expressive language and a simple and
lucid style, all place Somerset Maugham on a level with the greatest
English writers of the 20
th
century.
student’s painful progress toward maturity; “The Moon and Sixpence” stories, though they are indeed interesting and exciting, at the same time
(1919), an account of an unconventional artist, suggested by the life of convey deep thought, keen observation and sharpness of characteriza-
Paul Gauguin; “Cakes and Ale” (1930), the story of a famous novelist, tion. These very qualities assure Maugham an outstanding place in the
which is thought to contain caricatures of Thomas Hardy and Hugh annals of literature and in the hearts of all who love good stories.
Walpole; and “The Razor’s Edge” (1944), the story of a young Ameri- His most popular stories are Rain, The Unconquered, Gigolo and
can war veteran’s quest for a satisfying way of life. Gigolette, The Man with the Scar, The Luncheon.
In his works, Maugham mainly portrays the conflict of Europeans A realistic portrayal of life, keen character observation, interest-
in alien surroundings that provoke strong emotions. The readers are at- ing plots coupled with beautiful, expressive language and a simple and
tracted by Maugham’s skill in handling plot, in the manner of Guy de lucid style, all place Somerset Maugham on a level with the greatest
Maupassant. English writers of the 20th century.
Maugham’s philosophy of life is explained in “The Summing
Up” (1938) and “A Writer’s Notebook (1949)”.
Maugham is impartial to his characters. They are neither all good
nor all bad. “I cannot bring myself to judge my fellows; I am content to
observe them. My observation has led me to believe that, all in all, there
is not so much difference between the good and the bad as the moralists
would have us believe … There is not much to choose between men.
They are all a hotchpotch of greatness and littleness, of virtue and vice,
of nobility and baseness… Selfishness and kindness, idealism and sen-
suality, vanity, shyness, disinterestedness, courage, laziness, nervous-
ness, obstinacy and diffidence; they can all exist in a single person and
form a plausible harmony”.
Somerset Maugham triumphed not only as a novelist but as a
short-story writer as well. He produced some of the finest stories in
modern English literature. They are usually very sincere, interesting,
well-constructed and logically developed. No matter how many times
you read them, they always give you the same feeling of freshness and
excitement that you experienced on the first reading.
Many of Maugham’s stories are set in foreign lands where the au-
thor was as easily at home as he was in his native England. They were
inspired by his travels in China, Malaya, Borneo, Siam and many other
countries.
Maugham believes that the charm of a story lies in its interesting
plot and exciting situation, but we cannot share this opinion: his own
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