William Somerset Maugham cultivated a clear and direct prose style, a purity some critics attributed to his early fluency in French. Despite early hardships and periods of near starvation dedicated to his writing, Maugham forged a career that deliberately moved away from the experimental currents of modernism. His works often explored human nature and society with an observant, detached eye. Readers appreciate his ability to craft narratives that are both accessible and incisive.
This final classic collection reveals Somerset Maugham's unique talent for exposing and exploring the bitter realities of human relationships in tales of love, infidelity, passion and prejudice. The stories range from "The Lotus Eater" where a man envisions a life of bliss in the Mediterranean, to the astringent tales of "The Outstation" and "The Back of Beyond" in Malaya and South East Asia.
Somerset Maugham's irony and cool detachment made him an acknowledged master of the short story. The stories collected here are typical of Maugham's wry perception of human weakness and his unique talent for evoking a sense of time and place. They are set in familiar Maugham territory - the South Seas, Europe and America - but they are all concise and compelling dramas played out by unforgettable characters. The collection includes some of Maugham's most famous stories: "The Alien Corn," "Flotsam and Jetsam" and particularly "The Vessel of Wrath," a surprising tale of burgeoning love between a repressed mission lady and a drunken reprobate.
Charles Strickland, a conventional stockbroker abandons his wife and children for Paris and Tahiti, to live his life as a painter. Whilst his betrayal of family, duty and honour gives him the freedom to achieve greatness, his decision leads to an obsession which carries severe implications.
These 30 short stories, comprising Somerset Maugham's first collection, are set in locations ranging from England, France and Spain to the silver sands of the South Pacific. They include Rain, The Three Fat Women of Antibes, The Voice of the Turtle, and Before the Party.
These 30 short stories, comprising Somerset Maugham's first collection, are set in locations ranging from England, France and Spain to the silver sands of the South Pacific. They include Rain, The Three Fat Women of Antibes, The Voice of the Turtle, and Before the Party.
One of Maugham's rare experiments with form, this is a trio of stories that portrays a wide spectrum of life in the backstreets, suburbs and society of Edwardian London. Depicting the weighty power of convention and social interaction, the stories are linked by the character Miss Ley.
Of Human Bondage is the first and most autobiographical of Maugham s masterpieces. It is the story of Philip Carey, an orphan eager for life, love and adventure. After a few months studying in Heidelberg, and a brief spell in Paris as would-be arti
Canon Spratte, convinced of his own importance, believes he is destined to become the next Bishop of Sheffield, bolstered by his lineage as the son of a Lord Chancellor. His self-importance and entitlement shape his ambitions, providing a humorous exploration of character and societal expectations within the ecclesiastical hierarchy.