Literature Network » William Somerset Maugham

Against exotic chic, dark tale of family pain, self-deception.(BOOKS)

Content courtesy of

From: The Washington Times
Date: 20040801
Author:

Byline: Sudip Bose, SPECIAL TO THE WASHINGTON TIMES

From Joseph Conrad and William Somerset Maugham (and, indeed, many other Western writers) we inherited the enduring image of the bemused colonial around the turn of the 20th century - a tea planter, perhaps, luxuriating on some tropical verandah, sipping his gin-sling before joining in a game of billiards, dreaming of wealth and a splendid future, while viewing the natives around him only as manifestations of his own inner fantasies or fears.

Such writers used Malaya, India, and the heart of Africa to suit their ...

Read the rest of this article with a Free Trial at HighBeam Research.

Other Articles on William Somerset Maugham

About Our Articles: We've partnered with Highbeam Research to provide these article excerpts for your research needs. However, due to copyright laws, we cannot publish the whole article. To view these articles in full length you'll need to use the link above to access the free trial at Highbeam.