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The Secret Lives Of Somerset Maugham: A Biography (2009)

by Selina Hastings(Favorite Author)

3.96 of 5 Votes: 4

ISBN

1400061415 (ISBN13: 9781400061419)

languge

English

genre

History & Biography

publisher

Random House

review 1: This was a long book. I was not a big follower of Maugham's works before I read this and found it fun and interesting to read. This book was recently recognized as one of the top biographies so I thought I would give it a go. Maugham lived quite a life with his travels, imagination and alternative lifestyle. I think I will read his Of Human Bondage but not quite sure about the others. I like that several of his books were considered "too crude" to publish. Maugham did pretty much what he wanted to and Selina Hastings was thorough and fair. No melodrama here. It's recommend if you're up for an extended read. It's not one of those "can't put it down" books, but you will definitely want to finish to see how this odd man's life played out. He lived to the ripe and o... moreld (albeit senile) age of 91.
review 2: Best known for his novels Of Human Bondage and The Razor’s Edge, W. Somerset Maugham was a controversial novelist and playwright. He made a fortune from the sales of his popular works. Although he was private, rigid, and could deal the most withering of slights, Maugham was surrounded throughout his life by an engaging coterie. His partner Gerald Haxton remained with him for 30 years, despite Maugham's tempestuous 12-year marriage to designer Syrie Wellcome. Maugham traveled the globe extensively, was a spy in World War II, and rubbed shoulders with the literary greats. After Gerald's death in 1944, Maugham settled down with Alan Searles at his refuge, the Villa Mauresque. It seemed that Maugham might sail into his golden years with a partner, money, and fame. But at the age of 80, everything changed: a perceived betrayal would brutally destroy the remainder of his life and his reputation. (Russ K., Ref.) less

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