Of Human Bondage, Part II

by W. Somerset Maugham

William Somerset Maugham (1874-1965) was an English playwright, novelist, and short story writer. He was one of the most popular authors of his era, and reputedly the highest paid of his profession during the 1930s. By 1914 he was famous, with 10 plays produced and 10 published novels. His masterpiece is generally agreed to be Of Human Bondage (1915), a semi-autobiographical novel that deals with the life of the main character Philip Carey, who like Maugham, was orphaned, and brought up by his pious uncle. His last major novel, The Razor's Edge, published in 1944, was a departure for him in many ways. While much of the novel takes place in Europe, its main characters are American, not British. His other works include: Liza of Lambeth (1897), Mrs Craddock (1902), A Man of Honour (1903), The Land of the Blessed Virgin (1905), The Bishop's Apron (1906), Lady Frederick (1907), The Magician (1908), Home and Beauty (1909), The Moon and Sixpence (1919), The Circle (1921), The Trembling of a Leaf (1921), and On a Chinese Screen (1922).

Genres: Classics, Literature

412 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1915

About the author

William 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.

Reviews

[Colleen Mavrocoleas]

Enjoyed Maugham's incisive writing and understanding of the human condition.

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It isn't necessarily exciting, but it has its own sense of adventure. The realism of the character is remarkable, and had my emotions running the gamut from disturbed to despondent to hopeful. The main character has you hating him, and then rooting for him, thinking he got what he deserved, and then wondering at his bad luck. He is unapologetic, and both oblivious and introspective. He's human, and in the end, you cannot begrudge him that.

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Don't remember the story because I read it so long ago but I remember loving the writing.

[Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of those books never forgotten. See lots of Philips and Mildreds in life. Helps answer what's important in life for yourself.