Then and now a novel by maugham, somerset and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Maugham wrote comedies, psychological novels and spy stories although the latter part of his work is hardly ever seen as belonging to crime fiction proper. Maugham s 1915 novel is widely considered to be his best. He is not one flashy writer rather his writing flair is characterized by regardless elegance, emotional simplicity, an admirable transparency and sharp observation. Maugham gained fame by writing compositions based on biographical accounts, human nature, aftermath and anticipation of war. See more ideas about somerset maugham, story writer and playwright. Born in the british embassy in paris, where his father worked, maugham was an orphan by the age of ten. All of the characters are well drawn, and you get the feeling that maugham is leaving stuff out rather than putting stuff in. The book, which depicts the life of an 18yearold factory worker named liza kemp, gives an understanding of the way working class people in london used to live. Why is maugham now hailed as a literary genius when so many critics once considered his novels too earthy, too sordid. Title, year of first publication, first edition publisher london. William maugham was an english playwright, writer and novelist. No priority is established among the three binding variants, although stott speculates that binding i, which differs primarily from this copy in that the spine lettering is entirely in gilt, consisted of copies meant for.
Publishers blue cloth with gilt titles, in the typographic green dustjacket priced at 126. May 8, 2016 william somerset maugham ch was a british playwright, novelist and short story writer. A near fine copy of the book in a mildlytoned wrapper with several faint scratches to front panel. Somerset william somerset, 18741965 online books about this author are available, as is a wikipedia article maugham, w. He was among the most popular writers of his era and reputedly the highest paid author during the 1930s. Reading groups can borrow up to 40 books for eight weeks with group membership. Portrayed in full for the first time is maughams disastrous. Somerset maugham, collection 31 volumes gripping tales from the master storyteller. Somerset and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Titles are from the uk and over 100 countries in more than 60 languages. The sage in somerset maugham s book the razors edge is supposed to be ramana maharshi. Both maughams parents died before he was 10, and he was. Maugham was an acute observer of both people and landscapes and, today, the book reads almost as an elegy for a longgone culture. Maugham s father was an english lawyer handling the legal affairs of the british embassy in paris.
It is possible that this is so as a few weeks before my visit to the ramana ashrama somerset maugham had been there. First edition of maugham s second book, published almost a month earlier than the english edition. Somerset maugham, in full william somerset maugham, born jan. Somerset maugham, including the razors edge, and of human bondage, and more on. The great novels and short stories of somerset maugham kindle edition by maugham, w.
William maugham biography facts, childhood, family life. Lady frederick, the explorer, a man of honor the trembling of a leaf on a chinese screen. Working in the slums of lambeth as an obstetric clerk, maugham s experiences led him to write liza of lambeth 1897. If i was told to read the razors edge specifically and watch the film over a decade ago then that would have saved a lot of time. This article might use material from a wikipedia article, which is released under the creative commons attributionsharealike license 3.
Somerset maughams semiautobiographical novel shows the authors. Somerset maugham s book the summing up, in which he writes in an essaylike fashion on a number of topics related to writing and his life. Somerset maugham, was an english playwright, novelist, and short story writer. He may shock you, even outrage you but he will always hold you spellbound with the sheer power of his stories. Somerset maugham has 654 books on goodreads with 3527358 ratings. Somerset maugham edited title year of first publication author first edition publisher london, unless otherwise stated notes ref. You can read or download full digital editions on your computer on the press reader. In the essay the saint published in his book points of view he cites 1936. Somerset maughams most popular book is of human bondage.
Somerset maugham s most popular book is of human bondage. He was among the most popular writers of his era and reputedly the highestpaid author during the 1930s. First american edition same year as the english edition. Spine faintly sunned, slight wear to slipcase, else a fine copy. This man who struggled to speak due to his stammer spoke fluently. The reason why the book works is because of the writing. Designed to appeal to the booklover, the macmillan collectors library is a series of beautiful gift editions of much loved classic titles. He spoke french even before he spoke a word of english, a fact to which some critics attribute the purity of his style. All of the pages are unmarked and unmarked, uncreased and tightly bound, no stamps or inscriptions, the only flaws are a couple of minor scuffs to the. Along with being one of the most famous book titles, its been the name for a large number of british and american fashion magazines. Inscribed copies of the true first american edition of maughams most famous book are extremely scarce, from any period. Maughams masterpiece is generally agreed to be of human bondage, an autobiographical novel which deals with the. Maugh am had borrowed the ti tle o f his book from spinoza. The great novels and short stories of somerset maugham kindle.
Working in the slums of lambeth as an obstetric clerk, maughams experiences led him to write liza of lambeth 1897. Somerset maugham is the british novelist, short story writer, and playwright who took the 1930s by storm with his prose. Inscribed simply by maugham on the front free endpaper in ink. Borrow books for a reading group north somerset council. He was raised by an uncle, who tried to persuade the youngster to become an accountant or parson. Up to 20 copies of the same book title can be reserved on a group.
Somerset maugham from australias online independent bookstore, boomerang books. Somerset maugham is the bestselling author of such classic novele as of human bondage, the razors edge and the moon and. First edition, second issue, with the misprint corrected at line 4, page 257. Caesars wife east of suez the explorer the hero the land of promise the land of the blessed virgin liza of lambeth the magician the making of a saint moon and sixpence of human bondage orientations plays. Jul 01, 2012 granted unprecedented access to maughams personal correspondence and to newly uncovered interviews with his only child, hastings portrays the secret loves, betrayals, integrity, and passion that inspired maugham to create such classics as the razors edge and of human bondage. Chadwick wrote a book published in india titled a sadhus reminiscences of ramana maharshi in which he states in march 1939 somerset maugham came to the ashram. Since french law declared that all children born on french soil could be conscripted for military service, robert ormond maugham arranged for william to be born at the embassy, saving him from conscription into any future french wars and making it technically true that he. A near fine copy of the book in a mildlytoned wrapper with several faint. Closed off for half a century by the generals, there is a shortage of writing about this richly diverse country available in english but there are some gems. Discover book depositorys huge selection of w somerset maugham books online. Check out this biography to know about his childhood, family life, achievements and other facts related to his life. Henry shukman rereads somerset maugham books the guardian.
The best short stories of william somerset maugham by w. William somerset maugham was born on 25 december 1874 at the british embassy in paris, france, the fourth son of seven children total, but only four that survived infancy born to socialite and writer edith mary nee snell 18401882 and robert ormond maugham 18231884, a lawyer for the british embassy. This is an exlibrary book and may have the usual libraryusedbook markings inside. The book comprises ten authors and their books and provides a short biography of each writer, then a study of their greatest achievement in writing. Somerset maugham 25 january 1874 16 december 1965 william somerset maugham was born at the british embassy in paris, france, where his father was an english lawyer handling the legal affairs of the british embassy. Somerset maugham score a books total score is based on multiple factors, including the number of people who have voted for it and how highly those voters ranked the book.
William somerset maugham was born in paris in 1874. It tells the story of larry darrell, an american pilot traumatized by his experiences in world war i, who sets off in search of some transcendent meaning in his life. Many of maughams plays, novels, and short stories have been adapted into films. William somerset maugham january 25, 1874 december 16, 1965 was an english playwright, novelist and short story writer. In 1917, he took the first of many voyages to the paci.
Because of a severe stammer, maugham was unable to follow in his fathers and grandfathers footsteps as an attorney. Founded by the just about books teachers book group, the north somerset. His parents died early and, after an unhappy boyhood, which he recorded poignantly in of human bondage, maugham became a qualified physician. Online library services at home north somerset council. Somerset maugham, english novelist, playwright, and shortstory writer whose work is characterized by a clear unadorned style, cosmopolitan settings, and a shrewd understanding of human nature. Maugham was a great shortstory writer, but by now his stories have been collected and reassembled in so many different volumes that its very difficult to suggest a particular title. Somerset maugham 1874 1965 was a british playwright, novelist and short story writer.
In this part, spinoza discusses peoples inability to control their emotions which, thus, constitute bondage. Instead, he turned to a medical career, studying at st. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc. Somerset maughams story, miss thompson, new york, boni and liveright, c1923, also by john colton and clemence randolph page images at hathitrust. X, then and now title x edit your search then and now a novel. He is one of those 20thcentury writers whose stories are better than their novels. Then and now a novel by maugham, somerset and a great selection of related books. Dec 22, 2008 discover book depositorys huge selection of william somerset maugham books online. Essentially it is an instruction manual of the things you should think about when planning your own novel. This classic collection of stories moves from england, france and spain to the silver sands of the south pacific. Macmillan collectors library are books to love and treasure. Then and now by somerset maugham, first edition abebooks. Somerset maugham led many lives, including that of a doctor in londons slums, a successful playwright and novelist, an agent for british intelligence during world war i, and a world traveler.
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