W. Somerset Maugham

As described by the narrator in the short story "Mr. Know-All" by W. Somerset Maugham, Mr. Kaleda's physical characteristics include a sturdy build, dark skin, a hooked nose, lustrous eyes, and curly...

"The Luncheon" by W. Somerset Maugham humorously depicts a struggling writer's encounter with a woman who invites herself to lunch at an expensive restaurant. Despite her claims of eating lightly,...

W. Somerset Maugham titles his short story "The Kite" to symbolize freedom, independence, and accomplishment, as well as their opposites: loss of control and being at the mercy of circumstances....

"The Man with the Scar" by W. Somerset Maugham tells of a man with a red scar from temple to chin who sells lottery tickets in a bar. An acquaintance tells the narrator about the man's past as a...

In "The Luncheon," the author subtly tries to dissuade his lady companion from ordering more delicacies by ordering either the cheapest option or nothing at all for himself.

The eponymous verger in “The Verger” can be described as tenacious, determined, and hardworking. Despite being illiterate, he makes a success of his life by running a thriving and successful business.

The writer takes his revenge on the lady in "The Luncheon" by observing gleefully that the lady with whom he had once had lunch now weighs 133 kilograms. At their luncheon, the lady had eaten...

Jack Almond resigned from the Foreign Office and left England to cover up his affair with Lady Kastellan. When her husband threatened divorce, Almond was willing to marry her, but she persuaded him...

In "Mr. Know-All," the narrator is forced to share a cruise cabin with a man called Max Kelada. He claims to be an expert on pearls and values Mrs. Ramsay's chain at several thousand dollars. Mr....

The characters in Mr. Know-All include an unnamed British narrator and Mr. Kelada, with whom he must share a cabin. Mr. Kelada is a know-it-all who is generally disliked. Other important characters...

Foreman's quote in "The Verger" reflects his belief that education is not essential for performing his duties. Despite being illiterate, he was a competent verger for sixteen years, emphasizing that...

Maugham's "The Verger" is about a church verger named Foreman who loves his job and does it well, until a new pastor is hired, discovers Foreman cannot read, and essentially fires him. Foreman then...

Humor in "The Luncheon" arises from the narrator's attempt to appear sophisticated while dining with a woman who orders extravagantly at an expensive restaurant he can't afford. Despite her claim of...

The irony in "I never eat anything for luncheon" lies in the woman's contradictory behavior in "The Luncheon." Despite claiming to eat lightly, she orders numerous expensive dishes at Foyot's...

"The Luncheon" carries a message beyond its amusing recount. It highlights how flattery and pride can lead to poor decision-making, as seen when the young narrator, influenced by the woman's interest...

Themes in W. Somerset Maugham's works often explore disillusionment and the quest for meaning, influenced by Modernist concerns. His novels, such as Of Human Bondage and The Razor's Edge, depict...

Maugham expresses fatalism in "Appointment in Samarra" through a tale where a servant's attempt to escape death only leads him to his predestined fate. The servant flees to Samarra to avoid Death,...

In "Episode," Somerset Maugham uses the fictitious narrator Ned Preston, a volunteer prison visitor, to tell the story of Fred Manson, a postman who steals money to impress his love, Grace. The...

The lady secured a lunch invitation by flattering the writer, Somerset Maugham, with admiration for his work and expressing a desire to discuss his new novel. She suggested meeting at Foyot's, an...

The story "Princess September" by M. Somerset Maugham illustrates that true happiness stems from freedom. Princess September finds joy and contentment through her free little songbird, contrasting...

Princess September, the youngest daughter of the King and Queen of Siam, is emotional and compassionate. Unlike her envious sisters, she learns that true love involves granting freedom, as shown by...

"Salvatore" by W. Somerset Maugham is a short story that follows the life of a young Italian fisherman named Salvatore. The narrative highlights his innocence, kindness, and resilience through...

In "The Luncheon," Maugham employs irony and humor to highlight the disparity between appearances and reality. The narrator is ironically forced to maintain a sophisticated facade while his guest...

In W. Somerset Maugham's “The Luncheon,” the narrator's “friend” tells the narrator he is quite the “humorist” when the narrator says he will eat nothing for dinner. He is being literal, for he has...

The statement from "The Verger" about young fellows wasting time reading instead of doing something useful can be seen from both perspectives. Some argue that reading can lead to overindulgence and...

The luncheon in "The Luncheon" was prompted by a letter from the narrator's guest, who had read one of his books and expressed a desire to meet him while passing through Paris. Flattered by the...

"Home and Beauty" by W. Somerset Maugham is a satirical play set during World War I, exploring the life of Victoria, a socialite entangled with multiple husbands. The plot follows her from mourning a...

In "The Luncheon," W. Somerset Maugham shows that the narrator is uncomfortable with the requests made by the lady by mentioning at the beginning of the story that he has only eighty francs left to...

"Princess September and the Nightingale" by W. Somerset Maugham is an allegorical short story influenced by his experiences in Southeast Asia. It tells of Princess September, who, after losing a...

When the narrator orders only a mutton chop in "The Luncheon," the lady reacts by telling him that it's unwise to eat meat. She goes on to say that she doesn't know how one can work after eating such...

The narrator orders coffee because he realizes he is already financially overextended due to the expensive meal. By the time coffee is offered, he is resigned to his financial predicament and decides...

The story "Salvatore" shows that love and affection are the products of sincerity and selflessness. The quality of "goodness" that Salvatore exemplifies is tied to his selflessness and lack of ego.

The idiom "better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick" in Somerset Maugham's work suggests a situation that could be much worse, implying a choice between a moderate option and a dire one. In...

W. Somerset Maugham's view of poetry was very elevated. He regarded poetry as the "crown of literature" and "the sublimest activity of the human mind."

Somerset Maugham uses a variety of narrative techniques in "The Door of Opportunity," which, despite its realist tone, functions as a satirical critique of British imperialism and the vain folly of...

In "The Appointment in Samarra," death is gendered as female, reflecting traditional cultural views where women, though subjugated, were feared and associated with both life and death. This...

The tone of "The Appointment in Samarra" is deceptively simple yet somber and ominous. Through Death's perspective, the story unfolds with a seemingly straightforward narrative, only to reveal an...