1、William Somerset Maugham William Somerest Maugham a famous British novelist playwright and short story writer.He was among the most popular writers of his era and reputedly the highest paid author during the 1930s(25 January 1874 16 December 1965)Brief Introduction to his life 1.Childhood Birth:His
2、father was a lawyer who handled the legal affairs of British embassy in Pairs,and Maugham was born there.Since French law declared that all children born on French soil could be conscripted for military service,his father arranged for Maugham to be born at the embassy,technically on British soil.2.o
3、rphan experience When he was 8 years old,his mother passed away,and at the age of 10,his father also passed away.And he inherited parents legarcy which was 300 pounds every year.The early death of his mother left Maugham traumatized;he kept his mothers photograph by his bedside for the rest of his l
4、ife.After that,Maugham was sent to UK to be raised by a paternal uncle and the move was damaging,as Henry Maugham was cold and emotionally cruel 3.schoollife The boy attended The Kings School,Canterbury,which was also difficult for him.He was teased for his bad English(French had been his first lang
5、uage)and his short stature,which he inherited from his father.Maugham developed a stammer that would stay with him all his life,although it was sporadic and subject to mood and circumstance.Miserable both at his uncles vicarage and at school,the young Maugham developed a talent for making wounding r
6、emarks to those who displeased him.This ability is sometimes reflected in Maughams literary characters.4.University .At sixteen,Maugham at The Kings School.His uncle allowed him to travel to Germany,where he studied literature,philosophy and German at Heidelberg University.During his year in Heidelb
7、erg,Maugham met and had a sexual affair with John Ellingham Brooks,an Englishman ten years his senior 5.sexual affairs 6.Marriage and family Although Maughams first and many other sexual relationships were with men,he also had sexual relationships with a number of women.He had an affair with Syrie W
8、ellcome,the wife of Henry Wellcome,the American-born English pharmaceutical magnate.They had a daughter named Mary Elizabeth Wellcome,(19151998).Henry Wellcome sued his wife for divorce,naming Maugham as co-respondent.In May 1917,following the decree absolute,Syrie Wellcome and Maugham were married.
9、Syrie Maugham became a noted interior decorator who in the 1920s popularized the all-white room.Their daughter was familiarly called Liza and her surname was changed to Maugham.Syrie finally divorced him in 1929,finding his relationship and travels with Haxton too difficult to live with.7.career His
10、 grandfather,had been a prominent lawyer,and his father and three older brothers were all distinguished lawyers so Maugham was asked to be excused from the duty of following in their footsteps.Maugham had been writing steadily since the age of 15 and fervently wished to become an author,but as he wa
11、s not of age,he refrained from telling his guardian.For the next five years,he studied medicine at St Thomas Hospital in Lambeth,London.During these 5 years,he not only had a chance to know the living condition of the lowest class people,but developed keen eyes to analyse human and society as well.8
12、.Expriences During World War1,he worked to save the wounded soilders at the frontline,especially the firing line,in Belgium.Later,he worked as a secret agent for Britain and gathered information in Geneva.He has also been sent on a diplomatic mission to try to persuade the Russian goverment retreat
13、from the war.And this period of time was written into some of his works.In 1916,he traveled to the south Pacific Ocean.And since then,he has traveled to the Far East for many times.In 1920,he came to China in which he wrote his travelsOn Chinese Screenin 1922 and a full-length novelThe Painted Veilw
14、hose background is based on Chinese culture in1925 .After this,he has also been to South America and India,which added many exotic atmopheres to his works.During World War II,he went to America where he stayed almost 6 years.In 1946,he went back to France.In his later life,he enjoyed a high reputati
15、on in both Frence and Britain.In 1959,he made his last journey to the Far East.On Dec.15th 1965,he passed away in Riviera,France at the age of 91.His Works DramaLong novelsshort novelscomedies His reputation as a novelist rests primarily on these books:On Chinese ScreenHis Writing StyleInfluenced by
16、 the published journals of the French writer Jules Renard,Ibsen and Oscar Wilde.Maugham had enjoyed for their conscientiousness,wisdom and wit.His comedies was influenced by Oscar Wilde a lot.mianly about family,love and the twists in marriage.describe the situations and customs in the upper class.e
17、xpress the doubts about the society morality.more satiric than humourous.He always hold calm,impersomal aloof even particular attitudes with some satire and mercy to observe life in almost all his works.quotes 1.It is an illusion that youth is happy,an illusion of those who have lost it.2.Beauty is
18、an ecstasy;it is as simple as hunger.There is really nothing to be said about it.It is like the perfume of a rose:you can smell it and that is all.3.The artist produces for the liberation of his soul.It is his nature to create as it is the nature of water to run down the hill.4.Its no good trying to
19、 keep up old friendships.Its painful for both sides.The fact is,one grows out of people,and the only thing is to face it.5.We know our friends by their defects rather than by their merits.6.Imagination grows by exercise and contrary to common belief is more powerful in the mature than in the young.7
20、.An unfortunate thing about this world is that the good habits are much easier to give up than the bad ones.8.Death is a very dull,dreary affair,and my advice to you is to have nothing whatsoever to do with it.9.A man marries to have a home,but also because he doesnt want to be bothered with sex and
21、 all that sort of thing.10.The common idea that success spoils people by making them vain,egotistic,and self-complacent is erroneous;on the contrary,it makes them,for the most part,humble,tolerant,and kind.Failure makes people cruel and bitter.11.Perfection is a trifle dull.It is not the least of lifes ironies that this,which we all aim at,is better not quite achieved.12.We are not the same persons this year as last;nor are those we love.It is a happy chance if we,changing,continue to love a changed person.Thank youFrom Group 2
