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The W. Somerset Maugham Collection
W. Somerset Maugham was a British playwright, novelist and short story writer. He was among the most popular writers of his era and reputedly the highest-paid author during the 1930s. He is widely considered to be one of the greatest English writers ever.The W. Somerset Maugham Collection Moon And SixpenceOf Human BondageThe MagicianThe Trembling Of A LeafLiza Of LambethThe HeroMrs. CraddockThe Punctiliousness Of Don SebastianA Bad ExampleDe AmicitiaFaithThe Choice Of AmyntasandDaisy
3000 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 29, 2019
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About the author
W. Somerset Maugham
2,125 books6,095 followersWilliam Somerset Maugham was born in Paris in 1874. He spoke French even before he spoke a word of English, a fact to which some critics attribute the purity of his style.
His parents died early and, after an unhappy boyhood, which he recorded poignantly in Of Human Bondage, Maugham became a qualified physician. But writing was his true vocation. For ten years before his first success, he almost literally starved while pouring out novels and plays.
Maugham wrote at a time when experimental modernist literature such as that of William Faulkner, Thomas Mann, James Joyce and Virginia Woolf was gaining increasing popularity and winning critical acclaim. In this context, his plain prose style was criticized as 'such a tissue of clichés' that one's wonder is finally aroused at the writer's ability to assemble so many and at his unfailing inability to put anything in an individual way.
During World War I, Maugham worked for the British Secret Service . He travelled all over the world, and made many visits to America. After World War II, Maugham made his home in south of France and continued to move between England and Nice till his death in 1965.
At the time of Maugham's birth, French law was such that all foreign boys born in France became liable for conscription. Thus, Maugham was born within the Embassy, legally recognized as UK territory.
His parents died early and, after an unhappy boyhood, which he recorded poignantly in Of Human Bondage, Maugham became a qualified physician. But writing was his true vocation. For ten years before his first success, he almost literally starved while pouring out novels and plays.
Maugham wrote at a time when experimental modernist literature such as that of William Faulkner, Thomas Mann, James Joyce and Virginia Woolf was gaining increasing popularity and winning critical acclaim. In this context, his plain prose style was criticized as 'such a tissue of clichés' that one's wonder is finally aroused at the writer's ability to assemble so many and at his unfailing inability to put anything in an individual way.
During World War I, Maugham worked for the British Secret Service . He travelled all over the world, and made many visits to America. After World War II, Maugham made his home in south of France and continued to move between England and Nice till his death in 1965.
At the time of Maugham's birth, French law was such that all foreign boys born in France became liable for conscription. Thus, Maugham was born within the Embassy, legally recognized as UK territory.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
August 2, 2024
Somerset W Maugham is my all time favourite author - from the time when a sixteen year old version of me stumbled upon his writing, to this very day, I've thoroughly enjoyed his writing.
It was wonderful to revisit him after so many years. I will continue to go back to him again and again, as long as I am able to read...
It was wonderful to revisit him after so many years. I will continue to go back to him again and again, as long as I am able to read...
Displaying 1 of 1 review