Is William Somerset Maugham Living or Dead?

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By Turing Testman

Updated 18 March 2023

Artist	Carl Van Vechten
Credit	Van Vechten Collection at Library of Congress
License	pd
Desc	A portrait of W. Somerset Maugham
Usage	Public domain

Image info/credit

British playwright, novelist, short story writer

William Somerset Maugham is ...

Dead

Born	25 January 1874 in Paris
Died	16 December 1965 in Nice
Age	91 years, 11 months

Sex or gender	male
Country of citizenship	United Kingdom
Spouse	Syrie Maugham
Occupation	playwright, novelist, writer and screenwriter
Nominated for	Nobel Prize in Literature, Nobel Prize in Literature, Nobel Prize in Literature, Nobel Prize in Literature, Nobel Prize in Literature and Nobel Prize in Literature
Notable work	Of Human Bondage and The Razor's Edge

About William Somerset Maugham

William Somerset Maugham was a British playwright, novelist, and short story writer who was born on January 25, 1874. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential writers of the 20th century, and his works continue to be celebrated for their wit, insight, and emotional depth.

Maugham was born in Paris to British parents, and spent much of his childhood traveling between France, England, and Germany. He studied medicine at St. Thomas' Hospital in London, but soon abandoned his medical career to pursue writing full-time.

Maugham's first novel, Liza of Lambeth, was published in 1897 and was an immediate success. He went on to write dozens of novels, plays, and short stories over the course of his career, including Of Human Bondage, The Moon and Sixpence, and The Razor's Edge.

Maugham's writing was characterized by its sharp wit, keen observation, and psychological insight. He was known for his ability to capture the complexities of human relationships and the struggles of the human condition, and his works often explored themes of love, loss, and the search for meaning in life.

In addition to his writing, Maugham was also a prolific traveler and socialite. He spent much of his life traveling the world, and his experiences in places like China, India, and the South Pacific informed much of his writing. He was also a close friend of many of the leading cultural figures of his time, including Winston Churchill, George Bernard Shaw, and Noel Coward.

Maugham's influence on literature and popular culture has been profound, and his works continue to be celebrated and studied today. He died in 1965 at the age of 91, leaving behind a legacy of literary brilliance that continues to inspire and captivate readers around the world.

References:

- "William Somerset Maugham." Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., n.d. Web. 14 Sept. 2021.

- "William Somerset Maugham." The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica, 12 Mar. 2021. Web. 14 Sept. 2021.

- "William Somerset Maugham." The Literature Network. Jalic Inc., n.d. Web. 14 Sept. 2021.