William Somerset Maugham William Somerset Maugham

William Somerset Maugham

William Somerset Maugham

Biography He was born in Paris in 1874. His parents died when he was very little and the boy was brought up by his uncle, clergyman. After his parents’ death the boy was taken away from the French school At the age of ten the boy was sent to England to attend school. In 1890 he went abroad and studied at the University of Heidelberg from which he returned to England in 1892 and as his parents had destined him for the medical profession, he became a medical student at St Thomas’s hospital in London Soon after the publication of his first novel Maugham went to Spain and travelled widely to all parts of the world. Maugham has written 24 plays, 19 novels and a large number of short stories. The most mature period of his life began in 1915, when he published one of his most popular novels, Of human Bondage.

Not only a novelist but successful dramatist He was not only a novelist, but also a one of the most successful dramatist and short-story writers. . His reputation as a novelist is based on the following prominent books: 1. “Of Human Bondage”; 2. «The Moon and Sixpence” 3. “The Razor's Edge”. The other most prominent works by Somerset Maugham are: 4. Cakes and Ale (1930), 5. Theatre (1937), 6. The Razor’s Edge (1944).

Books 1 3 2 4. 5. 6

Conclusion on creativity Though Maugham doesn’t denounce the contemporary social order, he is critical of the morals and the narrow-mindedness. In general, Maugham's novels and short stories could be characterized by great narrative facility, an ironic point of view, cosmopolitan settings, and an astonishing understanding of human nature.