More Far Eastern Tales - Couverture souple

William Somerset Maugham, famous as novelist, playwright and short-story writer, was born in 1874, and lived in Paris until he was ten. He was educated at King's School, Canterbury, and at Heidelberg University. He spent some time at St. Thomas' Hospital with a view to practising medicine, but the success of his first novel, Liza of Lambeth, published in 1897, won him over to letters. Of Human Bondage, the first of his masterpieces, came out in 1915, and with the publication in 1919 of The Moon and Sixpence his reputation as a novelist was established. His position as a successful playwright was being consolidated at the same time. His first play, A Man of Honour, was followed by a series of successes just before and after World War I, and his career in the theatre did not end until 1933 with Sheppey.

His fame as a short story writer began with The Trembling of a Leaf, subtitled Little Stories of the South Sea Islands, in 1921, after which he published more than ten collections. His other works include travel books such as On a Chinese Screen, and Don Fernando, essays, criticism, and the autobiographical The Summing Up and A Writer's Notebook.

In 1927, he settled in the south of France, and lived there until his death in 1965.

More Far Eastern Tales brings together a further selection of Somerset Maugham's stories inspired by his travels in Singapore, Malaya and other exotic parts of the former British Empire. Containing some of his best-loved tales, this superbly entertaining and compelling collection is a testament to the skill and power of Maugham as a short story writer. From the love letter between a missionary and a drunkard to the mystery surrounding a death on board ship, the stories give a fascinating insight into the life and history of these colonies and are imbued with warmth, humour and a vast understanding of human nature.