Ten Novels and Their Authors by W. Somerset Maugham

Shortly thereafter on the 31st January Edith succumbed to her tuberculosis and died aged 41. Of course, her pregnancy and Maugham’s birth did little to alleviate her condition, so she had two more children after him, the last of whom was born on the 24th January 1882 and died the following day. Between the birth of the youngest of these three elder brothers and Maugham, Edith had contracted tuberculosis and the doctor had bizarrely prescribed childbirth as treatment, which led to Maugham’s birth so long after that of his brothers. Maugham’s deviation from the family career can perhaps be explained by his being raised effectively as an only child, for his three older brothers were already away at boarding school by his third birthday. Given that both Maugham’s father and grandfather were practitioners of law (Maugham’s grandfather, also named Robert, co-founded the English Law Society) it was assumed that Maugham and his brothers would follow suit, and his brother’s did his eldest, Viscount Maugham, served as Lord Chancellor in 1938-39. Robert was a lawyer dealing with the British Embassy’s legal affairs in Paris, and he arranged for Maugham to be born at the Embassy on British soil to ensure his exemption from the law of conscription into the French army for all boys born on French soil. ***For all our books, postage is charged at cost, allowing for packaging: any shipping rates indicated on ABE are an average only: we will reduce the P & P charge where appropriate - please contact us for postal rates for heavier books and sets etc.William Somerset Maugham was born on 25th January 1874 to Robert Ormond Maugham and Edith Mary (née Snell). ***First impression of the first paperback edition of this work by W.

***'The novel, I can never repeat too often, is not to be looked upon as a medium of instruction or edification, but as a source of intelligent diversion.' - Quote taken from the back cover. ***Contains essays on the following novels: Tom Jones Pride and Prejudice Le Rouge et le Noir Le Pere Goriot David Copperfield Madame Bovary Moby Dick Wuthering Heights The Brothers Karamazov War and Peace.

***301 pages plus a one page publisher's advert at the rear. ***A near fine copy in illustrated card wrappers.

***Rear cover illustration taken from a portrait drawing by Graham Sutherland. Originally published as a hardback in the UK in 1954 by William Heinemann. A 1969 first impression of the first paperback edition - Penguin Catalogue No. Dust Jacket Condition: No Jacket, as Issued.

Ten Novels and Their Authors by W. Somerset Maugham