W. Somerset Maugham

  • 20

    Catalog books

  • 34

    Works

  • 1984 to 2004

    Strongest span

Who This Author Is

W. Somerset Maugham writes with clear-eyed wit and a novelist’s attention to human contradictions. His long fiction—Of Human Bondage, The Magician, The Moon and Sixpence—examines obsession, moral compromise, and artistic striving through memorable, often unvarnished protagonists living on the edge of convention.

Maugham’s shorter work and plays sharpen the same concerns into compact, decisive scenes: sharp dialogue, ironic reversals, and a brisk storytelling economy. Collections like Cakes and Ales and his collected short stories showcase his gift for moral observation, theatrical timing, and characters who reveal themselves through choices under pressure.

Best Place To Start

Cakes and Ales

Penguin Group USA • 1993 • standard commitment

It stands out because it asks for less time than many of the longer volumes on this page.

Author At A Glance

Best known for: Of Human Bondage • The Moon and Sixpence • Collected Short Stories • Plays and theatre writings

Genres and themes: Literary fiction • Psychological insight • Travel and expatriate life • Social satire

Who this author is best for: For readers who prefer clear, economical prose that probes character and moral ambiguity without melodrama.

Start with Of Human Bondage for a full novel experience or sample the collected short stories to sample his range.

Top Books To Start With

  1. Cakes and Ales

    Penguin Group USA • 1993 • standard commitment

    UPB note: one of the most common used-copy publishers for this author • year signal: 1993 • 208 pages.

  2. The Moon and Sixpence (Penguin Twentieth-Century Classics)

    Penguin Group USA • 1993 • standard commitment

    It helps anchor a specific period of this author’s publishing run instead of blending into the undated shelf clutter.

  3. The Painted Veil (Penguin Twentieth Century Classics)

    Penguin Group USA • 1992 • standard commitment

    UPB note: one of the most common used-copy publishers for this author • year signal: 1992 • 238 pages.

  4. The Summing Up (Penguin 20th Century Classic)

    Penguin Group USA • 1992 • standard commitment

    UPB note: one of the most common used-copy publishers for this author • year signal: 1992 • 208 pages.

  5. The Magician

    Replica Books • 2004 • standard commitment

    UPB note: year signal: 2004 • 288 pages.

  6. Maugham Plays Two

    Methuen Pub Ltd • 2003 • longer commitment

    UPB note: year signal: 2003 • 343 pages.

  7. The Narrow Corner (Twentieth-Century Classics)

    Penguin USA • 1993 • standard commitment

    UPB note: year signal: 1993 • 224 pages.

  8. Liza of Lambeth

    Viking Pr • 1992 • quick commitment

    UPB note: year signal: 1992 • 128 pages.

  9. The Razor's Edge (Penguin Twentieth-Century Classics)

    Penguin USA • 1992 • standard commitment

    UPB note: year signal: 1992 • 314 pages.

  10. Collected Short Stories No. 3

    Penguin USA • 1984 • standard commitment

    UPB note: year signal: 1984 • 256 pages.

How The Picks Compare

  • Cakes and Ales is the easier short commitment, while The Moon and Sixpence (Penguin Twentieth-Century Classics) asks for more reading time up front.

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