W. Somerset Maugham

Brief Biography - William Somerset Maugham (1874 – 1965) William Somerset Maugham was a famous English novelist, playwright, and short-story writer. He was born on 25 January 1874 in Paris because his father worked there as a lawyer at the British Embassy. He lost his mother when he was very young, and his father died a few years later. This early loneliness touched his mind deeply, and later in his writings, we clearly see themes of human weakness, isolation, and the search for truth. Maugham first studied medicine and earned a medical degree. But his mind always leaned toward writing. He left medical life and chose literature as his full profession. His real-life experiences, his close observation of people, and his understanding of human nature gave a strong foundation to his writing. His first novel, Liza of Lambeth, brought him recognition in the literary world. Maugham loved traveling. He spent many years in different countries across Europe, Asia, and Africa. These travels added variety and realism to his stories. His short stories are especially famous because he portrayed the hidden emotions, disappointments, dreams, and weaknesses of people in simple language. The heroes in his stories are not perfect; they have doubts, fears, and mistakes, just like real human beings. This human truth made his works very popular among readers. Maugham’s strength as a writer lay in his clear, simple, and deeply observant style. He believed that a story should be told in such a way that readers can easily enter the lives of the characters. His famous works include Of Human Bondage, The Moon and Sixpence, The Razor’s Edge, and many remarkable short stories. Of Human Bondage is considered an autobiographical novel and is praised worldwide. Maugham had a remarkable ability to understand human beings. He showed that life is sometimes beautiful and sometimes difficult; people are sometimes brave and sometimes weak. He never judged life; he simply presented its true form. His works reveal the conflicts of the human mind, desires, failures, and the attraction toward truth. In his final years, he lived a quiet and peaceful life. He died on 16 December 1965. His death marked the end of an important chapter in English literature. Yet his writings still captivate readers. The way he portrayed the truth of human life, the complexity of relationships, and the subtle sides of human nature make him a permanent and unique figure in modern literature.