Description
Author W. Somerset Maugham
Publisher: Sun Dial Press Reprint Edition 1945 by special arrangement with Doubleday, Doran & Company, Inc.
Binding Hardcover with yellow embossing on a black cloth cover
Condition
Markings from the NYU libraries Freshman English Collection. Some tanning due to age but in very good condition.
Summary
"Of Human Bondage" is a novel by W. Somerset Maugham, first published in 1915. It is widely considered Maugham's masterwork and a classic of 20th-century English literature. The novel is a semi-autobiographical account that follows the life of the main character, Philip Carey. Orphaned at a young age, Philip is raised by his pious, emotionally cold aunt and uncle.
The story traces Philip's life from his school days, through his struggles with a clubfoot that makes him feel different and isolated, to his years at medical school in London. Throughout his life, Philip grapples with a deep existential quest for meaning and identity. He explores various career paths, engages in philosophical inquiry, and travels extensively in an attempt to define himself and his place in the world.
A central part of the narrative is Philip's tumultuous and destructive relationship with Mildred Rogers, a manipulative and self-destructive waitress who does not return his affections. This relationship is marked by obsession and emotional turmoil and serves to highlight themes of human bondage to passion and the need for personal freedom.
The novel is known for its deep psychological insights and its honest portrayal of human suffering and desire. It explores themes of self-discovery, the complexity of human relationships, and the pursuit of personal happiness, making it a deeply introspective and enduring work of literature.