Somerset and All the Maughams

by Robin Maugham

Book by Maugham, Robin

Genres: Biography

270 pages, Hardcover

Published February 25, 1977

Reviews

[Terence · Rating 3 out of 5]

Several many years ago a friend said that I reminded him of Larry, the hero of Somerset Maugham's The Razor's Edge. Obviously, I then had to read this novel to find out whether I had been slanderously insulted or handsomely praised. My friend's innocent comment set off the spark that grew into my love of all things "Maugham." From The Razor's Edge I moved on to Of Human Bondage, read over a 36-hour train ride from LA to Seattle, and from there into Maugham's other novels and short stories. Not only did I closely identify with many of the author's characters (my friend was not far off in his assessment) but I identified and sympathized with the author himself. (On the top 10 list of "Things to Do If I Had a Time Machine" would be to arrange a lunch at Maugham's home, Villa Mauresque, and get him to sign one of his books.)

I picked up this particular book while getting a crick in my neck looking over titles at a used-book sale; for 50 cents, it was an unbeatable bargain.

The author, Robin Maugham, is Somerset Maugham's nephew, and the book is a rambling chronicle of his efforts to trace the Maugham family. It makes for an interesting read as we learn about the obscure and humble origins of the clan (and "clan" it is; Robin M. finds cousins and branches all over the world) and some of its more colorful members like Theophilus Maugham (aka Thomas Reid), who served as a seaman during the Napoleonic Wars.

It's also a fairly benign look at the Maughams until we reach the last two chapters where Robin talks about his father and "Willie" (as he always referred to his uncle). Neither man was particularly easy to get along with. Robin's father, Frederic Maugham, could have been a poster boy for the Victorian gentleman - suppressed and suppressing, narrow minded, a tad bigoted and nearly absent as a father in Robin's life. It's clear he wasn't a bad person but he wasn't a good father. William Maugham had his own demons to contend with: Parents dead at an early age, he spent a miserable childhood with his uncle, the vicar of Whitstable; homosexual in an age when it was a crime to be such; and burdened with low self-esteem and a constant need to justify himself to those he considered his betters (the upper crust of English society). In his later years, Willie's veneer of worldly cynicism tended to overwhelm that current of Romantic humanism that made him capable of writing such works as Liza of Lambeth, his first novel and a moving portrait of the poor that shocked strait-laced Victorian sensibilities, The Razor's Edge, Of Human Bondage or Cakes and Ale.

I can only recommend this to a small readership: Those who like genealogy and/or those who are interested in W. Somerset Maugham but if you do suffer from one or both of those maladies, I think you'll enjoy this work.

[Judith Squires · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just recently discovered that W. Somerset Maugham had a nephew who was also an accomplished writer, who wrote this account of the family in the 1960's. Even though his father and "Wille" as he called his uncle couldn't stand each other, Robin was on good terms with his famous uncle and this is an interesting account of the famous family. I have enjoyed Somerset Maugham's works ever since reading the great "Razor's Edge" years ago and this memoir reads like a historical account of England through much of the first half of the 20th Century, since Robin's father was Lord Chancellor of England during World War II and Robin himself served and was severely wounded in WWII while serving in North Africa. There is an account also earlier members of the family, one by the name of Theophilos, who was in the British navy during the Napoleonic War. Now I plan to read some of Robin's novels.

[Peter Burton · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very well written and entertaining account of the great writer Somerset Maugham written by his nephew.It recounts his research into family history with interesting tales of various ancestors until he reaches modern times and can give a picture of his father and uncle (who disliked each other).Ultimately sad as Somerset increasing thought his life a failure.His childhood was lonely after his beloved mother died and he went to live with uncle in Whitstable.His stammer and homosexuality blighted his life until he realised that you cannot change your essential nature.I remember his short stories adapted for TV in the 1960s and have always wondered about the man behind them.This reveals much of the man and is very readable.

[Liedzeit Liedzeit · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite wonderful. Robin is interested in the history of his family. But of course he knows that people are more interested in William. So he includes anecdotes all the way through. The 89 year old uncle tells him that he has missed his mother every day and starts crying. A sad life he has led. No doubt because of his homosexuality. He himself admits that his mistake was that he thought of himself three fourth straight and one fourth queer. Whereas in reality it was the other way round. Nice hate relationship with his brother the Lord Chancellor, Robin’s father.

[Jeremy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A charming family history with an emphasis on the author's uncle, the famous writer William Somerset Maugham. This book is extremely well written and very, very interesting. I enjoyed every page of it. The family comprised some very odd / unusual characters! Published in 1966, it also made me realise just how much easier genealogists have it nowadays with DNA matching and vast online databases. Back when this book was written it was a whole different ball game!

[Pip Jennings · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting, but quite a slow read. I was a bit bogged down in all the Williams & Roberts, so the family tree was most welcome. I recently read the Selina Hastings bio. Of Somerset Maugham and this is a good complement to it.