About
Born in Paris, orphaned at 10, raised by his uncle, a vicar in England. After studying medicine, he devoted himself to writing. First famous as a playwright, he achieved great success with novels like Of Human Bondage and short stories. His clear, lucid style, often set in Far East colonies, marked literature. A secret agent during WWI, he influenced the spy genre. Settled on the French Riviera, he founded a literary prize and bequeathed his royalties to the Royal Literary Fund.
* 1874-01-25 — † 1965-12-16
Major works
- Liza of Lambeth (1897)novel
- Of Human Bondage (1915)novel
- The Moon and Sixpence (1919)novel
- Cakes and Ale (1930)novel
- The Razor's Edge (1944)novel
Key milestones
- 1897Qualified as a physician at St Thomas' Hospital, London, but never practised.
- 1928Published Ashenden, based on his secret service activities during WWI.
- 1947Founded the Somerset Maugham Award to fund travel for young British writers.
Themes
AutobiographyColonial exoticismSocial hypocrisySearch for meaningFate and chance
Sources: rlf.org.uk · discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk · catdir.loc.gov
