Moon and Sixpence

The Moon and Sixpence By William Somerset Maugham Table: Ⅰ. A brief introduction to the author Ⅱ. Plot summary Ⅲ. Comments A. The Title B. Love Relationships with Three Women C. Comparisons between Stroeve and Strickland D. Why is it Classic? E. Sentences Analysis Ⅰ. A brief introduction to the author William Somerset Maugham (1874 - 1965), a famous British writer all over the world. Born in Paris, 1874, Maugham was the sixth and youngest son. His father Robert Ormond Maugham was an English lawyer who handled the legal affairs of the British embassy in Paris, France. His grandfather, another Robert, had also been a prominent lawyer and co-founder of the English Law Society. It was taken for granted that Maugham and his brothers would follow in their footsteps. At the age of 10, he was orphaned and raised by his uncle, Henry MacDonald Maugham. Educated at King’s School, Canterbury, where he was laughed at due to his stammer that he never outgrew. At sixteen, Maugham refused to continue his study at The King's School. His uncle allowed him to travel to Germany, where he studied literature, philosophy and German at Heidelberg University. Later, he was sent to study medicine in St. Thomas’ Medical School, London, but abandoned the major after the success of his first novels and plays. Maugham is a productive writer with over one hundred books, including novels and plays, all high qualified. His stories are told in a clear, economical style with cynical or resigned undertone. In spite of his popularity among readers, he did not receive critical attention for his novels in Britain. Maugham's public view of his abilities remained modest. Towards the end of his career he described himself as "in the very first row of the second-raters." Ⅱ. Plot Summary First published in 1919, The Moon and Sixpence is one of the important novels contributing to establishing W. Somerset Maugham’s reputation as a literary