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William Somerset Maugham

William Somerset Maugham (January 25, 1874 – December 16, 1965) Well known British novelist, playwright and short-story writer, who achieved outstanding recognition as the highest paid author of the 1930s as well as his literary talent. Although his skills in handling plot-handling were compared to those of Guy de Maupassant by some critics and he was popular among many readers, Maugham’s works were not as well received by the some critics.

Maugham was born in France in 1874 as the sixth and the youngest child of an English family. His father worked as the solicitor to the British Embassy in Paris and he spoke only French till he was 11, when he was orphaned and came to England to live with his religious uncle and his family. Maugham attended King's School, Canterbury, and Heidelberg University, where he studied literature and philosophy. Later on he moved on to specialise in medicine at St Thomas’ Hospital in London, which he completed in 1897 and became a doctor. However, Maugham did not practise medicine for a long time and gave it up altogether to become a full time writer when his first novels and plays proved successful.

Maugham’s first novel Liza of Lambeth was published in 1897, which was based on Maugham’s experiences as a doctor, especially those which acquired during the days he attended women in childbirth. His first play, A Man of Honour, was produced in 1903, which was followed by his other plays, four of which were on show in London in 1904 simultaneously. Some of Maugham’s famous plays, many of which were staged both in Europe and the United States, are: The Circle (1921), Our Betters (1923) and The Constant Wife (1927).

As well as his plays, Maugham became popular as a novel writer as well, most famous of which is Of Human Bondage (1915). An autobiographical book loosely based on his own life story, it tells the story of club-footed Philip Carey. Philip, having lost his parents at an early age and is brought up by his aunt and uncle and becomes a doctor like Maugham himself. Of Human Bondage was the book which established him as a well known author and to this day has been considered his most successful work.

In 1917, Maugham married his mistress Maud Gwendolen Syrie Barnardo, who was a famous interior decorator who became well known especially for her trademark all-white rooms in the 1920s. Also in 1917, during the Russian Revolution, Maugham was sent to Russia as an agent of the British Intelligence, MI6. It was during this time that he met Gerald Haxton, who subsequently became his partner until Haxton’s death in 1944 (after which Maugham lived with Alan Searle). He visited Russia, appearing to be a reporter however due to his stuttering and health problems, he had to give up his career as an agent.

Owing to the popularity of his books and plays along with several film adaptations and the profit he obtained from these, Maugham was able to lead a financially carefree life. He travelled across Asia, the Pacific Islands and Mexico mostly with Haxton till 1926, when he settled in French Riviera and spent most of his days there. Unsuprisingly, Maugham’s stormy marriage to Syrie ended in 1928, due to Maugham's homosexuality and on going relationship with Haxton. They had one daughter, Elizabeth Mary Maugham (a.k.a. Liza), from this marriage.

The most popular short stories such as ‘Rain’ and ‘The Letter’ and novels of Maugham take place abroad, concentrating mostly on the the life lead in the the Far East by British colonists and the negative effects of their isolation on their psychology. Maugham achieved to display their emotional tribulations effectively while avoiding being melodramatic owing to his clear, restrained prose.

The Moon and Sixpence (1919) retells the story of famous French painter Paul Gauguin;

Ashenden: Or, the British Agent (1928) was heavily based on Maugham’s experiences as a spy in Russia during the World War I and it inspired some of the eminent authors of this genre such as Graham Greene, Ian Fleming, and John le Carré.

The Summing Up(1938) is a collection of his literary experiences and has been used as a guidebook for creative writing.

The Razor’s Edge(1944) is the story of a young American who strives for spiritual fulfillment.

In his later years, Maugham mostly dedicated himself to writing of essays which were collected in The Art of Fiction: An Introduction to Ten Novels and Their Authors (1955).

One of Maugham’s important contributions to the literary world is surely the Somerset Maugham Award, which he personally started in 1947. The award, which is still given, aims to acknowledge and celebrate the success of the best British writer or writers under the age of thirty-five who published a work of fiction during the previous year. Some of the famous names who notably have won this award are Kingsley Amis and Thom Gunn.

Maugham enjoyed greater popularity abroad than in England after 1930s. During his 80th birthday, there was a revival in his popularity and his Cakes and Ale (1930), a satirical novel giving a glimpse into London literary circles, was re-published.

Somerset Maugham died in Nice, France on December 16, 1965.

Biography written by Y.B. Gonen for Jalic Inc. Copyright Jalic Inc 2005. All Rights Reserved.

The above biography is copyrighted. Do not republish it without permission.

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