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Somerset Maugham
Somerset Maugham
711 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1980
About the author
Ted Morgan
38 books24 followersBorn Saint-Charles Armand Gabriel de Gramont*, he used the name Sanche de Gramont as his byline (and also on his books) during the early part of his career. He worked as a journalist for many years, and was awarded the Pulitzer Prize in 1961 for local reporting written under pressure of a deadline. He first came to the United States in 1937, and became a naturalized citizen in February 1977, at which time he had his name legally changed to Ted Morgan. He was a National Book Award finalist in 1982 for Maugham: A Biography.
*His father was a military pilot who died in an accident in 1943, at which point he inherited the title "Comte de Gramont". He was properly styled "Saint-Charles Armand Gabriel, Comte de Gramont" until he renounced his title upon becoming a U.S. citizen in 1977.
*His father was a military pilot who died in an accident in 1943, at which point he inherited the title "Comte de Gramont". He was properly styled "Saint-Charles Armand Gabriel, Comte de Gramont" until he renounced his title upon becoming a U.S. citizen in 1977.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
March 2, 2019
I have long been an admirer of the writer W. Somerset Maugham. I find his stories, particularly his short stories, to be magnificent tales told in a straight-forward, almost minimalist style – with great insight of the human condition.
Maugham lived a long and very productive life (1874 – 1965), so his writings spanned many changing literary trends and authors. He knew from a young age that he wanted to be a writer. And he also knew that he had to gather life experience. For this he studied at medical school for four years in order to witness life in the raw; his novel “Liza of Lambeth” is based directly on his training. He also travelled extensively – first in Europe and as he became richer the entire globe. Maugham found success first as a play-write – and only later as a novelist.
Maugham was a homosexual. I use that term instead of the word gay because it was not used during Maugham’s era, or for that matter when this book was published in 1980. Of great significance was the trial of Oscar Wilde which forced Maugham to camouflage his sexuality. His homosexuality set him apart from “normal” society. Maugham always saw himself as an outsider – and his homosexuality undoubtedly contributed to this. There are other factors as well. Maugham was born in France and he only came to England when he was 10 years old. His first language was French (his published output was all in English). Also, he had a stammer.
Maugham married to present a “respectable” façade. His marriage produced one child (a daughter), but as to be expected this marriage ended in divorce.
As mentioned, Maugham travelled widely. After the First World War he set off for several months with his friend Gerald Haxton (leaving his wife and daughter) to visit British colonies in the Far East, like Malaysia and some Pacific Islands.
Page 191 (my book)
“I [Maugham] was fortunate enough to have on my journeys a companion who had an inestimable social gift. He had an amiability of disposition that enabled him in a very short time to make friends with people… so that I was able to get into easy contact with an immense number of persons whom otherwise I should have known only from a distance.”
Instinctively Maugham recognized how useful these gifts of Haxton’s could be to him in his career. With the exception of “Of Human Bondage”, his best work was written while he was with Haxton. There was a connection between his creative output and life with Gerald. All but one volume of short stories, the best plays, and all the novels from “The Moon and Sixpence” to “The Razor’s Edge” were written during his tenure.
From these travels there resulted a set of short stories on the British who were out in remote areas tending to the empire. These stories are not flattering on imperialism and colonialism. Maugham, with the aid of Gerald, gained access into this peculiar world and had the opportunity to observe and listen to the banter and stories told by these colonial settlers. Maugham was very adept at scrutinizing people and gathered their anecdotes and yarns for future use. Many were surprised and very disenchanted when they found themselves in Maugham’s stories.
Page 346 (a Maugham letter)
I think I have described people as I have found them. You say the characters I create are abominable: they are not to me; I am not shocked by many things that shock other people… I do not see people all of a piece… I see them capable of every meanness and of having heroism.
Essentially Maugham wanted to tell stories and he does this exquisitely. They are honestly written with a diverse variety of characters. For whatever reason Maugham was never in vogue with the literary elite – he was not a James Joyce. He was too rich and famous, and quite possibly his closet homosexuality was a mark against him.
Maugham worked hard at being a writer and persisted in his early career despite frequent rejections. Eventually he reached a very lucrative level and owned a home on the French Riviera. Even in his eighties he was a traveller, making it to Japan. His works have been translated into several languages.
As usual when you read a biography of a writer you admire you become aware of several despicable traits in their character. Maugham had several!
What I particularly liked in this book was the evaluation by the author of several of the books and plays of Maugham and how they were perceived during his era. He also compares Maugham to the many other writers who lived during his lifetime. This is an excellent and detailed biography of an author who continues to be read to this day.
Maugham lived a long and very productive life (1874 – 1965), so his writings spanned many changing literary trends and authors. He knew from a young age that he wanted to be a writer. And he also knew that he had to gather life experience. For this he studied at medical school for four years in order to witness life in the raw; his novel “Liza of Lambeth” is based directly on his training. He also travelled extensively – first in Europe and as he became richer the entire globe. Maugham found success first as a play-write – and only later as a novelist.
Maugham was a homosexual. I use that term instead of the word gay because it was not used during Maugham’s era, or for that matter when this book was published in 1980. Of great significance was the trial of Oscar Wilde which forced Maugham to camouflage his sexuality. His homosexuality set him apart from “normal” society. Maugham always saw himself as an outsider – and his homosexuality undoubtedly contributed to this. There are other factors as well. Maugham was born in France and he only came to England when he was 10 years old. His first language was French (his published output was all in English). Also, he had a stammer.
Maugham married to present a “respectable” façade. His marriage produced one child (a daughter), but as to be expected this marriage ended in divorce.
As mentioned, Maugham travelled widely. After the First World War he set off for several months with his friend Gerald Haxton (leaving his wife and daughter) to visit British colonies in the Far East, like Malaysia and some Pacific Islands.
Page 191 (my book)
“I [Maugham] was fortunate enough to have on my journeys a companion who had an inestimable social gift. He had an amiability of disposition that enabled him in a very short time to make friends with people… so that I was able to get into easy contact with an immense number of persons whom otherwise I should have known only from a distance.”
Instinctively Maugham recognized how useful these gifts of Haxton’s could be to him in his career. With the exception of “Of Human Bondage”, his best work was written while he was with Haxton. There was a connection between his creative output and life with Gerald. All but one volume of short stories, the best plays, and all the novels from “The Moon and Sixpence” to “The Razor’s Edge” were written during his tenure.
From these travels there resulted a set of short stories on the British who were out in remote areas tending to the empire. These stories are not flattering on imperialism and colonialism. Maugham, with the aid of Gerald, gained access into this peculiar world and had the opportunity to observe and listen to the banter and stories told by these colonial settlers. Maugham was very adept at scrutinizing people and gathered their anecdotes and yarns for future use. Many were surprised and very disenchanted when they found themselves in Maugham’s stories.
Page 346 (a Maugham letter)
I think I have described people as I have found them. You say the characters I create are abominable: they are not to me; I am not shocked by many things that shock other people… I do not see people all of a piece… I see them capable of every meanness and of having heroism.
Essentially Maugham wanted to tell stories and he does this exquisitely. They are honestly written with a diverse variety of characters. For whatever reason Maugham was never in vogue with the literary elite – he was not a James Joyce. He was too rich and famous, and quite possibly his closet homosexuality was a mark against him.
Maugham worked hard at being a writer and persisted in his early career despite frequent rejections. Eventually he reached a very lucrative level and owned a home on the French Riviera. Even in his eighties he was a traveller, making it to Japan. His works have been translated into several languages.
As usual when you read a biography of a writer you admire you become aware of several despicable traits in their character. Maugham had several!
What I particularly liked in this book was the evaluation by the author of several of the books and plays of Maugham and how they were perceived during his era. He also compares Maugham to the many other writers who lived during his lifetime. This is an excellent and detailed biography of an author who continues to be read to this day.
November 25, 2019
Somerset Maugham is the opposite of Sylvia Plath. She was a genius who wrote electrifying poetry, full of rage and unconventional images. But when you read books about her life they are all unbelievably boring, like, "and then Sylvia refurbished the kitchen and built a crib and found out her husband was cheating and wrote sixteen brilliant poems in two weeks and then she stuck her head in the oven and died."
Maugham is the opposite. The vast bulk of his stories and novels are dull, sour, and filled with distaste for sex and emotions and the irritating way people get so passionate about so many things when really, a gentleman just wants a cocktail. Yet when you read about his life from the outside it just seems incredibly exciting and interesting and you can't believe that at the center of it was a bitter old fruit who just wanted a cocktail. "And then Maugham went to Cairo and seduced six young Egyptian men in one night while doing undercover work for the British government and writing a new play for the London stage. He ran into Winston Churchill and the two of them raced each other up the pyramids and then Maugham rode a camel on to the Red Sea, where he hopped a tramp steamer for Singapore. And in Singapore it rained all the time and he wrote twelve short stories while winning the club poker championship and seducing the wife and son of a prominent American businessman. In the same night."
Maugham is the opposite. The vast bulk of his stories and novels are dull, sour, and filled with distaste for sex and emotions and the irritating way people get so passionate about so many things when really, a gentleman just wants a cocktail. Yet when you read about his life from the outside it just seems incredibly exciting and interesting and you can't believe that at the center of it was a bitter old fruit who just wanted a cocktail. "And then Maugham went to Cairo and seduced six young Egyptian men in one night while doing undercover work for the British government and writing a new play for the London stage. He ran into Winston Churchill and the two of them raced each other up the pyramids and then Maugham rode a camel on to the Red Sea, where he hopped a tramp steamer for Singapore. And in Singapore it rained all the time and he wrote twelve short stories while winning the club poker championship and seducing the wife and son of a prominent American businessman. In the same night."
February 3, 2022
This bio reads like research notes that must be turned
over to a Writer. Unfortunately, they weren't. It's an
appalling hiccough of facts. Another example of a greasy whopper burger in
which the author throws everything onto the griddle.
MOMs life could make a 1/2 dozen novels. I don't think
the author cared for MOM at all, but he got a fat
contract - on assignment - and needed the loot. Baaad.
=
Read the perceptive Maugham bio by Jeffrey Meyers.
over to a Writer. Unfortunately, they weren't. It's an
appalling hiccough of facts. Another example of a greasy whopper burger in
which the author throws everything onto the griddle.
MOMs life could make a 1/2 dozen novels. I don't think
the author cared for MOM at all, but he got a fat
contract - on assignment - and needed the loot. Baaad.
=
Read the perceptive Maugham bio by Jeffrey Meyers.
September 1, 2009
I'm sorry I had to give up on this one though I did like Ted Morgan's "Literary Outlaw" about the life and times of Wm. S. Burroughs. This biography suffers from what some biographies succumb to - the biographer's desire to include TOO much detail. While it is admirable that some biographers wish to document the minutiae of their subject's lives I firmly believe that good biography should read like good literature. It should not only illuminate the subject, but also, by holding the candle to the mirror, ourselves.
Ted Morgan told a good story using the subject matter of Wm. S. Burroughs life, but here with Maugham, however, he succumbed to giving the reader too much detail. And, sadly, Maughma's life (at least the part I read) really wasn't all that interesting. Of course he knew everyone and his life spanned the Victorian to the Post Modern, but this story could have been told successfully with 25-30% fewer pages.
July 23, 2008
This was a hard book to read. Over 600 pages of daily life, mostly revolving around Maugham's embarrassment of his homosexuality due to the social pressures of the Victorian and Edwardian eras, his vindictive personality and general self-loathing. I enjoy his books so much, but he was really messed up.
January 24, 2023
All you want to know about Somerset Maugham told it great detail and very entertaining too.Maugham was a very popular playwright ,short story writer and novelist with many of his books made into popular successes as movies.Today he’s probably almost forgotten except to We oldies.This is a warts and all biography leaving no stone unturned so we know about his life,career,personality,sex life,his friends and death.It’s a long book but enjoyable.He’s generally considered a good second rate novelist today but very widely popular in his day.What makes a writer first class?Some unique quality favoured by intellectuals?Maugham did not find favour favour with them but did with the general public.Surely being widely read is what every writer wants to achieve so on that measure he was a major figure.This is long but worthwhile for those who remember him.I still think “Of Human Bondage” and “ Cakes and Ale” are worth reading today.
April 23, 2011
This was fairly enjoyable to read just as a story. I cannot help thinking that Morgan disliked Maugham. He (Morgan) has an active and vigorous mind, though, and I cannot help thinking this might have worked better as a scholarly text, as his noting of Maugham's themes and such is quite astute. Maugham led a long life, and as someone who is transcribing his letters it was useful -- just in terms of names. Morgan, it seems, hated Alan Searle, but I don't know. So much of biography is just story, as Maugham himself proves.
May 14, 2022
have never been a fan of somerset maughams works but his life was quite interesting. he came in contact with all the other artistic people of his time. i would guess that no more than ten percent of the quotes in the book were true or accurate but fun to read.
February 1, 2019
Maugham's short stories are an unimprovable portrait of the British colonial offical in the Far East in the early 20th century and this biography gives you a portrait of the man behind the work. The book is far too long but it's a good read packed with anecdotes and incidents. The snobbery, one-upmanship and jockeying for position are a hoot and Maugham himself is a troubled and intriguing personality.
February 8, 2024
I disliked this book immensely. I thought I was reading a series of Sticky Notes put together into a paragraph. It would begin with a time in the author's life, and this happened, then this happened, then this happened. That is how it was set up. It did not help that I did not like the subject of the biography. I found the more I read, the more I could not stand the man.
Read
January 15, 2022A warts and all life of W S Maugham...mostly warts!...Ted Morgan appears to have little warmth towards his subject.
November 14, 2016
Very detailed and interesting account of Maugham's successful but not totally satisfying and/or happy life. Maugham tried to make a biographer's task difficult -- he destroyed letters and other material and asked friends and correspondents to destroy all letters and not cooperate with writers. But Morgan overcame and produced a fine product. Nicely written and mostly clear, although he sometimes uses pronouns with uncertain antecedents. My only gripe!
I'm inspired to read some Maugham. Have a 1937 anthology he edited and will begin there. Also planning to read "The Razor's Edge" with book club.
I'm inspired to read some Maugham. Have a 1937 anthology he edited and will begin there. Also planning to read "The Razor's Edge" with book club.
Read
September 16, 2012I have to admit I got through 400 pages out of 620, but somewhere between 1927 and 1940, in the wilds of Chapter 14, I put the book down and never continued the journey.
January 14, 2013
The best biography of the writer who critics and other writers regarded as the best in the English language over Maugham's extraordinarily long three-generation writing career.
December 4, 2014
691 pages, and I was sorry when it ended.
July 19, 2016
Biographies can be boring and tough to get through but this one isn't bad.
March 25, 2017
This in-depth biography was long and tedious. Partially because of Maugham's "hidden" homosexuality, due possibly to the Victorian and Edwardian ages in which he mostly lived. But he was also rather misogynist and nasty. And this from a writer who wrote Of Human Bondage or The Razor's Edge? I was fascinated by the amount of plays he also wrote. Overall, that made it worth the read.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews