W. Somerset Maugham

William Somerset Maugham, born in Paris in 1874 and educated in England and Germany, initially trained as a physician but quickly turned to writing as his true vocation. His first novel, Liza of Lambeth, explored slum life and gained him early attention, but it was through playwriting that he first became a celebrated figure in British literary circles, achieving the remarkable feat of having four plays running simultaneously in London's West End by 1908. Maugham eventually shifted focus back...See more

William Somerset Maugham, born in Paris in 1874 and educated in England and Germany, initially trained as a physician but quickly turned to writing as his true vocation. His first novel, Liza of Lambeth, explored slum life and gained him early attention, but it was through playwriting that he first became a celebrated figure in British literary circles, achieving the remarkable feat of having four plays running simultaneously in London's West End by 1908. Maugham eventually shifted focus back to novels and short stories, creating acclaimed works such as Of Human Bondage and The Razor's Edge, which highlighted his lucid prose and keen psychological insight.Maugham's literary career was intertwined with his personal experiences, including service in the British Secret Service during World War I. Although his narrative style was sometimes critiqued for relying on clichés, his works like The Moon and Sixpence and The Painted Veil are recognized for their narrative depth and vivid characterizations. His personal life was equally colorful, marked by a complex sexuality and high-profile relationships, including a tumultuous marriage to Syrie Wellcome and a lifelong partnership with Gerald Haxton, with whom he traveled extensively. Maugham's later years were spent on the French Riviera, where he continued to write and host literary figures until his work waned and he passed away in 1965 at the age of 91. See less