文档介绍：It's no good trying to keep up old friendships. It's painful for both sides. The fact is, one grows out of people, and the only thing is to face it. ---Somerset Maugham William Somerset Maugham (1874-1965) A famous English author, novelist and playwright. Many of his stories are about human weaknesses . Brief introduction to Maugham ’ s life An English writer considered to be one of the best writers of short stories in the English language. He also wrote plays and novels including Of Human Bondage and Cakes and Ale. His popularity lies in the fact that by early 1930's, he had e the highest paid author of his era. .. Maugham was orphaned at the age of 10 。 He was brought by his uncle and Educated at King ’ s School ,Canterbury. After a year at Heidelberg ,he entered St. Thomas ’ medical school , London , and qualified as a doctor in 1897. He drew upon his experiences as an obstetrician in his first novel, Liza of Lambeth(1897),and its ess , though small , encouraged him to abandon medicine . He traveled in Spain and Italy and in 1908 achieved a theatrical triumph---four plays running in London at once---that brought him financial security . During World War ? he worked as a secret agent, After the war he Resumed his interrupted travels and , in 1928, bought a villa on Cape Ferrat In the south of France, which became his permanent home. His homosexuality had e known to everyone and he was often dragged into controversies for to his sexual orientation. heless, he also had affairs with many women among which the most enduring was with Syrie e, wife of American-born Englishman Henry e. hsi romance with Syrie resulted in a daughter Liza and Syrie's divorce with his husband Henry. In May 1917, Maugham married Syrie accepting Liza as his daughter. The marriage became strained due to his contemptuous relationship with Haxton and they divorced around 1927. Timeline: 1874- Maugham was born on 25 January. 1905- Of Human Bon