Books by "Somerset Maugham"

William Somerset Maugham (25 January 1874 – 16 December 1965) was a renowned British novelist, playwright, short story writer and the highest paid author in the world, in the 1930s. Somerset Maugham was born in Paris but orphaned when he was ten years old and sent to live with his Uncle in England. Having learnt French as his native tongue; he later educated at King's School Canterbury and Heidelberg University and then studied medicine for six years in London. He qualified as a doctor from St. Thomas' medical school, but abandoned medicine, following the success of his initial plays and novels.

His career as an author began in Paris where he lived as a struggling young author. His first book Liza Of Lambeth drew on his experiences of attending women in childbirth and he named his daughter after the title character. His first play 'A Man Of Honor' was produced in 1903 and amongst his breakthrough novels was the semi autobiographical 'Of Human Bondage' (1915). This has been considered to be his outstanding achievement.

Besides literary works he volunteered for the Red Cross during the outbreak of WWI and served as an espionage agent for British Secret Intelligence Services in Russia in 1916-17. He married Syrie Barnardo Wellcome, an interior decorator but was divorced few years later. His most important works include The Moon and the Sixpence (1919), Trembling Of A Leaf (1921) (which included the story 'Rain' and was adapted to the stage by John Colton and Clemence Randolph in 1922). Many of his short stories have been filmed and famous among them are Quartet, 'The facts of life', 'The Kite' and 'The colonel's Lady'.

William Somerset Maugham was never knighted despite his popularity. Maugham died in the year 1965 leaving behind a rich treasure of stories, novels and plays.