Questions tagged [william-somerset-maugham]

Questions about the works of the British playwright, novelist and short story writer William Somerset Maugham (1874 – 1965) and his life as a writer. He is best known for the novels 'Of Human Bondage' (1915), 'The Moon and Sixpence' (1919) and 'The Razor's Edge' (1944). If asking about one of his plays or novels, use this tag with the appropriate title tag. If asking about one of his short stories, use this tag together with [short-stories].

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What did Charles Dickens say about genius and pain?

While reading Somerset Maugham's Cakes and Ale, I came across this quote (emphasis mine): ...Charles Dickens in an after-dinner speech had stated that genius was an infinite capacity for taking ...
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4 votes
1 answer
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Did Maugham originally write in French or English?

Currently I can only read with Chinese and English. So if his works are originally wrote in French, I may choose Chinese version.
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3 votes
1 answer
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Short story by Maugham about writer who sells their soul to see how they are remembered in the future, but their only mention is in this very story

I could be wrong that it is by Maugham, it is about 30+ years since reading - in the story the writer knows another writer who is very bad at writing, but who is convinced of their own genius. The bad ...
user254694's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
599 views

Why is the gesture of the rebel noble in "The Man with the Scar"?

In the William Somerset Maugham short story "The Man with the Scar", the general considers the gesture of the rebel as a noble gesture. I don't understand why. He killed his love, the girl ...
math boy's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
229 views

Explanation of “The faculty for myth is innate in the human race.”

I am reading The Moon and Sixpence by Somerset Maugham and am finding it difficult to understand the meaning of this highlighted phrase. The faculty for myth is innate in the human race. It seizes ...
Aditya's user avatar
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2 votes
0 answers
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Is perception and understanding a theme in The Moon and Sixpence?

In The Moon and Sixpence, from the different perspectives of the different characters such as the narrator, Strickland's wife, Ata, Dirk etc show different views on Strickland, and while some of their ...
user1039203's user avatar
2 votes
0 answers
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Did William Somerset Maugham's uncle treat his nephew in an emotionally cruel way?

William Somerset Maugham's mother died in 1882, when he was only eight years old, and his father died two years later. William was sent to his paternal uncle, Henry MacDonald Maugham, who was a vicar. ...
Tsundoku's user avatar
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