You Should Read: Maugham

William Somerset Maugham (1874–1965) is a good example of a literary giant—now in eclipse—who is all but forgotten, save for a few college English professors.  The British playwright, novelist and short story writer was among the most popular writers of his era and was one of the highest-paid writers of the 20^th Century.

To say that Maugham led an interesting life, is something of an understatement.  Raised in a wealthy family of lawyers and judges, he rejected the law in favor of medicine.  His graduation from medical school coincided with the publication his first novel, Liza of Lambeth, a tale of working-class adultery and its consequences.  When the book became a popular success, he abandoned his medical practice, and embarked upon a 65-year career as a writer.

During the First World War, he served with the Red Cross and in the ambulance corps, along with soon-to-be-famous writers like John Dos Passos, e. e. cummings, and Ernest Hemingway.  In 1916 he was recruited into the British intelligence service, and spied for his country in Switzerland and Russia.

His next big hit, his novel, Of Human Bondage, appeared in 1916, and has never been out of print since.  It has been performed on the stage, and made into three motion pictures.  This was followed closely by another success, The Moon And Sixpence, based upon the life of artist Paul Gauguin. 

Maugham used his spying experiences with MI-6 as the basis for Ashenden: Or the British Agent, a collection of short stories about a suave and sophisticated spy.  This appears to have  influenced Ian Fleming's later series of James Bond novels.

Maugham was an accomplished writer of short stories.  A genre not currently in vogue, the short story is a good place to start for readers wanting to get a feel for Maugham.  His best, in my opinion, is Neil MacAdam, appearing in Volume 4 of his Collected Short Stories.

His last major novel, The Razor's Edge (1944), tells of a disillusioned World War veteran who leaves high society and searches for mystical enlightenment in India.  The novel was made into movies, in 1946 and 1984.

Haven’t the time to dive into Maugham’s novels or short stories?  You can always check out some of his motion pictures on Netflix:

• Sadie Thompson (1928), a silent movie starring Gloria Swanson and Lionel Barrymore. Based on the short story "Miss Thompson", which was later retitled "Rain".
• The Letter (1929) featuring Jeanne Eagels, O. P. Heggie, Reginald Owen and Herbert Marshall. Based on the play of the same name.
• Rain (1932), the first sound version of the short story "Miss Thompson" (retitled as "Rain"), with Joan Crawford and Walter Huston.
• Of Human Bondage (1934) starring Leslie Howard and Bette Davis. Based on the book of the same name.
• Secret Agent (1936) with John Gielgud, Peter Lorre, Madeleine Carroll, and Robert Young, directed by Alfred Hitchcock. Based on Ashenden.
• The Moon and Sixpence (1942) with George Sanders. Based on the novel of the same name.
• Christmas Holiday (1944) starring Deanna Durbin and Gene Kelly, based on the novel of the same name.
• The Hour Before the Dawn (1944) starring Veronica Lake, based on the novel of the same name.
• The Razor's Edge (1946) featuring Tyrone Power and Gene Tierney. Based on the book of the same name.
• Of Human Bondage (1946) version starring Eleanor Parker.
• Of Human Bondage (1964) with Laurence Harvey and Kim Novak.
• The Razor's Edge (1984) with Bill Murray. Based on the novel by the same name.
• Up at the Villa (2000) starring Kristin Scott Thomas and Sean Penn, directed by Philip Haas. Based on the novella of the same name.
• Being Julia (2004) featuring Annette Bening. Based on the novel Theatre.
• The Painted Veil (2006) with Naomi Watts and Edward Norton. Based on the novel of the same name.

“You Should Read” is a weekly iLocal News series, reviewing not only the latest books by local writers, but also reminding readers that some of the best books in print have been around for a long time. As Mark Twain said, “The man who does not read has no advantage over the man who cannot read.”

Books are wonderful things. Whether you are lying on the beach, or curled up in your favorite chair in front of a fire on a frosty day, a good book to read will fill your day with enjoyment. It doesn’t matter if your book is a leather-bound treasure, an inexpensive paperback, an electronic Ebook or Kindle, or an audiobook playing on your car radio. Books excite, inform, move the soul, and stimulate the senses. Reading expands your world, and makes you a more interesting person.

As Groucho Marx once said, “Outside of a dog, a book is a man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read.”