The Essential Somerset Maugham: 33 Books in One Edition (Annotated): Enriched Edition. Novels, Short Stories, Plays & Travel Sketche; Including Of Human Bondage, The Moon and Sixpence...
Dec 2023 · DigiCat
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About this ebook
The Essential Somerset Maugham: 33 Books in One Edition presents an expansive portrait of W. Somerset Maugham, encompassing the fiction, drama, and reflective prose through which he became one of the twentieth century's most readable and perceptive writers. Its range reveals his characteristic literary virtues: lucid, economical sentences; sharply observed social comedy; morally ambiguous characters; and narratives shaped by travel, desire, betrayal, illness, and artistic vocation. Situated between late Victorian realism and literary modernism, Maugham's work favors psychological clarity and elegant storytelling over formal experiment, while its cosmopolitan settings expose the assumptions of empire, class, and respectable society. Read as a whole, the collection demonstrates the remarkable unity beneath his varied genres and subjects. Maugham (1874–1965) trained as a physician before establishing himself as a novelist, playwright, short-story writer, and essayist. His medical experience sharpened his interest in suffering and motive; his years of travel and residence abroad cultivated the worldly perspective evident throughout his work. Familiar with theatrical success, literary celebrity, and the tensions surrounding sexuality and social convention, he transformed personal observation into fiction notable for its composure, irony, and ethical intelligence. This edition is especially valuable because it allows readers to follow the development of a career shaped by both popular appeal and serious artistic discipline. Recommended for newcomers and devoted readers alike, this volume offers an unusually comprehensive introduction to Maugham's achievement. It is suited to readers interested in twentieth-century fiction, cosmopolitan literature, narrative craft, and the subtle anatomy of human weakness. The collection rewards continuous reading while also providing accessible entry points into individual works, making it an enduring companion for study, reference, and pleasurable rereading. This enriched edition has been carefully crafted to add value to your reading experience. - A comprehensive Introduction outlines these selected works' unifying features, themes, or stylistic evolutions. - The Author Biography highlights personal milestones and literary influences that shape the entire body of writing. - A Historical Context section situates the works in their broader era—social currents, cultural trends, and key events that underpin their creation. - A concise Synopsis (Selection) offers an accessible overview of the included texts, helping readers navigate plotlines and main ideas without revealing critical twists. - A unified Analysis examines recurring motifs and stylistic hallmarks across the collection, tying the stories together while spotlighting the different work's strengths. - Reflection questions inspire deeper contemplation of the author's overarching message, inviting readers to draw connections among different texts and relate them to modern contexts. - Lastly, our hand‐picked Memorable Quotes distill pivotal lines and turning points, serving as touchstones for the collection's central themes.
The Essential Somerset Maugham: 33 Books in One Edition presents an expansive portrait of W. Somerset Maugham, encompassing the fiction, drama, and reflective prose through which he became one of the twentieth century's most readable and perceptive writers. Its range reveals his characteristic li...
About the author
William Somerset Maugham, born on January 25, 1874, in Paris, was an English playwright, novelist, and short story writer, renowned for his clear, unadorned prose and expert storytelling. His work is characterized by a cynical but also compassionate perception of human weaknesses, often reflecting themes of love, war, and social mores. Maugham trained in medicine before shifting to writing, an experience that informed his famed novel 'Of Human Bondage' (1915). This semi-autobiographical work is considered his masterpiece, laying bare the struggles of the artist and the nuances of desire and artistic pursuit. Maugham's prolific output includes 'The Moon and Sixpence' (1919), inspired by the life of Paul Gauguin, and 'The Razor's Edge' (1944), which explores the quest for spiritual meaning. 'The Essential Somerset Maugham: 33 Books in One Edition' collects the significant spectrum of his literary contributions, showcasing his versatility and influence in 20th-century literature. Maugham's international acclaim and travels, particularly to the East, inspired many of his evocative short stories, with collections like 'The Casuarina Tree' and 'Ashenden: Or the British Agent' providing a testament to his gift for nuanced, globally-conscious narratives. He died in Nice, France, on December 16, 1965, leaving behind a legacy of work that continues to be celebrated and absorbed by readers and scholars alike.
William Somerset Maugham, born on January 25, 1874, in Paris, was an English playwright, novelist, and short story writer, renowned for his clear, unadorned prose and expert storytelling. His work is characterized by a cynical but also compassionate perception of human weaknesses, often reflectin...
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