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Read W.S. Maugham’s biography and say what occu-
pations and facts of his life, in your opinion, were of bene-
fit to him as a writer.
WILLIAM SOMERSET
MAUGHAM
(born Jan. 25, 1874, Paris, Fr. - died
Dec. 16, 1965, Nice)
William Somerset Maugham is
an English novelist, playwright, and
short-story writer whose work is char-
acterised by a clear unadorned style,
cosmopolitan settings, and a shrewd
understanding of human nature.
When Maugham was born – in the British Embassy in Paris in
1874 – he was destined to become a lawyer. His father and grandfather
had been prominent attorneys, and his oldest brother went on to become
England's Lord Chancellor. However, Maugham had a severe stammer,
which left him afraid to speak; so there were no plans for him to follow
the family tradition. Furthermore, he was orphaned by the age of 10 and
was sent to England to be raised by an uncle, a clergyman. These
circumstances led the young Maugham to be shy and withdrawn;
consequently he became an observer rather than an active participant,
but he was able to turn this to his advantage as a writer. After a year at
Heidelberg, he entered St. Thomas' medical school, London, and
qualified as a doctor in 1897. He drew upon his experiences as an obste-
trician in his first novel, Liza of Lambeth (1897), and its success, though
small, encouraged him to abandon medicine.
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He travelled in Spain and Italy and in 1908 achieved a theatrical
triumph – four plays running in London at once – that brought him fi-
nancial security. During World War I he worked as a secret agent. In
1917 Maugham took the first of many long trips to the Pacific Islands
and the Far East, which resulted in some of his finest writing. The first
of these stories was The Moon and Sixpence (1919), a novel based on
the life of Gauguin. He wrote highly readable travel books – On a Chi-
nese Screen (1923) and The Gentleman in the Parlour (1930) – and
several collections of short stories. The Trembling of a Leaf (1923) con-
tained his most recognized story, "Rain," and The Casuarina Tree
(1926).
Sometimes Maugham's stories were thinly disguised episodes in-
volving his host or others he had met on his travels – circumstances that
occasionally resulted in threats and lawsuits. The Painted Veil (1925)
was revised at least twice to eliminate references to people still living in
Hong Kong, and the various issues of this book remain of great interest
to Maugham collectors.
In 1927, Maugham left England amid scandal and moved to
France, where he spent the rest of his life. He enjoyed a royal lifestyle
at the Villa Mauresque, and an invitation by Maugham to spend a few
weeks there was highly prized by the literary and social elite. In spite of
his relocation, he continued his disciplined habit of writing several
hours every morning and his love of travel.
His reputation as a novelist rests primarily on four books: Of
Human Bondage (1915), a semi-autobiographical account of a young
medical student's painful progress toward maturity; The Moon and Six-
pence (1919), an account of an unconventional artist, suggested by the
life of Paul Gauguin; Cakes and Ale (1930), the story of a famous nov-
elist, which is thought to contain caricatures of Thomas Hardy and
Read W.S. Maugham’s biography and say what occu- He travelled in Spain and Italy and in 1908 achieved a theatrical
pations and facts of his life, in your opinion, were of bene- triumph – four plays running in London at once – that brought him fi-
fit to him as a writer. nancial security. During World War I he worked as a secret agent. In
1917 Maugham took the first of many long trips to the Pacific Islands
WILLIAM SOMERSET and the Far East, which resulted in some of his finest writing. The first
MAUGHAM of these stories was The Moon and Sixpence (1919), a novel based on
(born Jan. 25, 1874, Paris, Fr. - died the life of Gauguin. He wrote highly readable travel books – On a Chi-
Dec. 16, 1965, Nice) nese Screen (1923) and The Gentleman in the Parlour (1930) – and
several collections of short stories. The Trembling of a Leaf (1923) con-
William Somerset Maugham is tained his most recognized story, "Rain," and The Casuarina Tree
an English novelist, playwright, and (1926).
short-story writer whose work is char- Sometimes Maugham's stories were thinly disguised episodes in-
acterised by a clear unadorned style, volving his host or others he had met on his travels – circumstances that
cosmopolitan settings, and a shrewd occasionally resulted in threats and lawsuits. The Painted Veil (1925)
understanding of human nature. was revised at least twice to eliminate references to people still living in
When Maugham was born – in the British Embassy in Paris in Hong Kong, and the various issues of this book remain of great interest
1874 – he was destined to become a lawyer. His father and grandfather to Maugham collectors.
had been prominent attorneys, and his oldest brother went on to become In 1927, Maugham left England amid scandal and moved to
England's Lord Chancellor. However, Maugham had a severe stammer, France, where he spent the rest of his life. He enjoyed a royal lifestyle
which left him afraid to speak; so there were no plans for him to follow at the Villa Mauresque, and an invitation by Maugham to spend a few
the family tradition. Furthermore, he was orphaned by the age of 10 and weeks there was highly prized by the literary and social elite. In spite of
was sent to England to be raised by an uncle, a clergyman. These his relocation, he continued his disciplined habit of writing several
circumstances led the young Maugham to be shy and withdrawn; hours every morning and his love of travel.
consequently he became an observer rather than an active participant, His reputation as a novelist rests primarily on four books: Of
but he was able to turn this to his advantage as a writer. After a year at Human Bondage (1915), a semi-autobiographical account of a young
Heidelberg, he entered St. Thomas' medical school, London, and medical student's painful progress toward maturity; The Moon and Six-
qualified as a doctor in 1897. He drew upon his experiences as an obste- pence (1919), an account of an unconventional artist, suggested by the
trician in his first novel, Liza of Lambeth (1897), and its success, though life of Paul Gauguin; Cakes and Ale (1930), the story of a famous nov-
small, encouraged him to abandon medicine. elist, which is thought to contain caricatures of Thomas Hardy and
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