Of Human Bondage Author:W. Somerset Maugham When W. Somerset Maugham was twenty-three, and had taken his medical degrees at St. Thomas' Hospital, he went to Seville determined to earn his living as a writer. His first novel "Lisa of Lambeth" had been a modest success. His next manuscript was called "The Artistic Temperament of Stephen Carey" and he sent it to Fisher Unwin who refused to... more » give the advance of one hundred pounds Maugham wanted. None of the other publishers to whom Maugham submitted the script would have it at any price. So he put it aside and turned to other writing, particularly plays.
By the time he was thirty-seven, Maugham had become the most successful playwright in England, but he was obsessed with memories of his past life. So he retired from the stage and for two years worked on the manuscript of his novel, an outgrowth of the manuscript rejected so many years before.« less
This book was easy to put down but also easy to pick back up. Although it's supposed to be one of Maugham's best, I far preferred "The Moon and Sixpence."
This was very interesting ... even if the end was slightly predictable. I turned the last page wanting to read more and wishing it would continue on with his life. You had to feel sorry for Philip who had such a rough life and things falling against him as he tries to decide what to do with himself. Although this is an abridged edition, I don't feel like I missed out on anything. I think if it was any longer it would have dragged out.