Of Human Bondage

Of Human Bondage is a semi-autobiographical novel following the life of Philip Carey a newly orphaned boy sent to live with his aunt and uncle in a vicarage. Somewhat of a social outcast Philip finds it difficult to adjust to life in boarding school and while his uncle pressures him to pursue his studies at Oxford he yearns for a life of adventure and romance instead. And so he travels and pursues whatever suits his fancy. After a brief stint in Germany followed by studying art in Paris Philip eventually falls in love with Mildred a waitress in London with whom he ends up in a tumultuous bittersweet relationship.W. Somerset Maugham was an English author and playwright who was one of the most commercially and critically successful writers of his time. He had an extremely prolific career having written hundreds of short stories novels and plays. Of Human Bondage is generally agreed to be Maugham’s magnum opus and has featured on several lists of the best English novels of the 20th century.