W. Somerset Maugham – 20th-century English writer, author of Of Human Bondage and The Moon and Sixpence, renowned for psychological novels and short stories. Trained as a doctor, he served in intelligence during WWI. His works combine sharp wit with insight into human weakness, many adapted for stage and screen.
📚 His debut novel Liza of Lambeth (1897) drew from his hospital work. 🎭 In 1908, four of his plays ran simultaneously in London – a record. 🕵️ Served in British intelligence during WWI, stationed in Switzerland and Russia. ✍️ Of Human Bondage is considered partly autobiographical. 🌍 Travelled widely, from Polynesia to Malaya, turning experiences into stories. 📖 His Tropical Tales popularised exotic settings in English fiction. 🎬 Over 30 films were based on his works. 📜 In the 1950s, his Letters from Papeete inspired interest in Tahitian culture. 🏠 Spent later years in his villa “Mauresque” on the French Riviera. 📖 Lifetime book sales made him one of the most read British authors. 😲 Curious fact: Maugham saw himself as “a second-rate writer” despite huge fame. 😄 Funny fact: he joked that medicine taught him to “listen to people without listening.”