Introduction


W. Somerset Maugham

Hollywood loves W. Somerset Maugham. More than the works of most other twentieth-century writers, Maugham’s plays, novels, and short stories have been adapted into films. In part, this was attributable to his enormous output, but it is even more closely tied to his enduring popularity. That popularity and the lucrative financial benefits that it brought had a negative impact on Maugham’s literary reputation. A writer who was too often written off as well liked rather than well respected, Maugham frequent joked about his own apparent inferiority. Yet, despite his modesty, Maugham created a body of work characterized by incredible range. While he was known for fluffy tales like Theatre (which was adapted into the 2004 film Being Julia), his dark, late-career novel The Razor’s Edge proved Maugham was an author of substance.

Essential Facts

  1. Although of British descent, Maugham was born in Paris. To prevent Maugham from being drafted into the military under French law, Maugham’s father arranged for his son to be born on British Embassy grounds.
  2. Despite his gift with language on the page, Maugham suffered from a severe stutter throughout his life.
  3. Maugham was one of the “Literary Ambulance Drivers” of World War I. The moniker was a slang term for the unusually high number of literary greats (such as Ernest Hemingway and E. E. Cummings) who served as ambulance drivers during the war.
  4. Maugham briefly did intelligence work at the end of the First World War. The written account of his experiences was highly influential on Ian Fleming, creator of James Bond.
  5. For half a decade, Maugham studied medicine. Though the experience would continue to influence his writing for the rest of his life, it was particularly crucial to his first and highly successful novel, Liza of Lambeth.
 

Recommended Resources

  1. Of Human Bondage eText
  2. Of Human Bondage Study Guide (quickNotes)
  3. The Razor's Edge Study Guide (eNotes)
  4. W. Somerset Maugham - Cyclopedia of World Authors

All Resources

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  1. (Sir) Noël (Pierce) Coward Criticism | W. Somerset Maugham
  2. An Official Position Summary - W. Somerset Maugham
  3. Cakes and Ale Character Analysis
  4. Cakes and Ale Review - W. Somerset Maugham
  5. Cakes and Ale Summary - W. Somerset Maugham
  6. Cakes and Ale; or, The Skeleton in the Cupboard Summary / Study Guide
  7. For Services Rendered Summary and Study Guide - W. Somerset Maugham
  8. Liza of Lambeth Character Analysis
  9. Liza of Lambeth Summary - W. Somerset Maugham
  10. Maugham, W. Somerset: The Oxford Companion to English Literature
  11. Miss Sadie Thompson: Videohound Movie Retriever
  12. Of Human Bondage Character Analysis
  13. Of Human Bondage eText
  14. Of Human Bondage Review - W. Somerset Maugham
  15. Of Human Bondage Study Guide (quickNotes)
  16. Of Human Bondage Summary - W. Somerset Maugham
  17. Of Human Bondage: Videohound Movie Retriever
  18. Rain Summary - W. Somerset Maugham
  19. Rain Summary / Study Guide
  20. Red Summary / Study Guide
  21. Somerset Maugham Review - Jeffrey Meyers
  22. The Alien Corn Summary - W. Somerset Maugham
  23. The Circle Character Analysis
  24. The Circle Summary - W. Somerset Maugham
  25. The Fall of Edward Barnard Summary and Study Guide - W. Somerset Maugham
  26. The Moon and Sixpence Character Analysis
  27. The Moon and Sixpence Review - W. Somerset Maugham
  28. The Moon and Sixpence Summary - W. Somerset Maugham
  29. The Moon and Sixpence Summary / Study Guide
  30. The Outstation Summary - W. Somerset Maugham
  31. The Razor's Edge Study Guide (eNotes)
  32. The Razor’s Edge Review - W. Somerset Maugham
  33. The Razor’s Edge Summary - W. Somerset Maugham
  34. The Summing Up Summary - W. Somerset Maugham
  35. W(illiam) Somerset Maugham Criticism (Vol. 1)
  36. W(illiam) Somerset Maugham Criticism (Vol. 11)
  37. W(illiam) Somerset Maugham Criticism (Vol. 15)
  38. W. Somerset Maugham - Cyclopedia of World Authors
  39. W. Somerset Maugham Biography / Profile
  40. W. Somerset Maugham Biography / Profile
  41. W. Somerset Maugham Biography / Profile
  42. W. Somerset Of Human Bondage Maugham Criticism