文档介绍：毛姆英文版简介
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 become the highest paid author of his era.
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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 success , 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 І 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 become known to everyone and he was often dragged into controversies for to his sexual orientation. Nonetheless, he also had affairs with many women among which the most enduring was with Syrie Wellcome, wife of American-born Englishman Henry Wellcome. 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 Bondage, another novel written during this period, appeared.1916- Maugham embarked upon writing The Moon and Sixpence.1917- Maugham married Syrie.