{"product_id":"of-human-bondage-9780553213928","title":"Of Human Bondage","description":"\u003cb\u003eA masterpiece of modern literature that mirrors Maugham's own career.\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ci\u003eOf Human Bondage\u003c\/i\u003e is the first and most autobiographical of Maugham's novels. It is the story of Philip Carey, an orphan eager for life, love and adventure. After a few months studying in Heidelberg, and a brief spell in Paris as a would-be artist, Philip settles in London to train as a doctor. And that is where he meets Mildred, the loud but irresistible waitress with whom he plunges into a formative, tortured and masochistic affair which very nearly ruins him.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWilliam 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, \u003ci\u003eLiza of Lambeth\u003c\/i\u003e, published in 1897, won him over to letters. \u003ci\u003eOf Human Bondage\u003c\/i\u003e, the first of his masterpieces, came out in 1915, and with the publication in 1919 of \u003ci\u003eThe Moon and Sixpence\u003c\/i\u003e his reputation as a novelist was established. His position as a successful playwright was being consolidated at the same time. His first play, \u003ci\u003eA Man of Honour\u003c\/i\u003e, 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 \u003ci\u003eSheppey\u003c\/i\u003e. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eHis fame as a short story writer began with \u003ci\u003eThe Trembling of a Leaf\u003c\/i\u003e, subtitled \u003ci\u003eLittle Stories of the South Sea Islands\u003c\/i\u003e, in 1921, after which he published more than ten collections. His other works include travel books such as \u003ci\u003eOn a Chinese Screen\u003c\/i\u003e, and \u003ci\u003eDon Fernando\u003c\/i\u003e, essays, criticism, and the autobiographical \u003ci\u003eThe Summing Up\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eA Writer's Notebook\u003c\/i\u003e. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eIn 1927, he settled in the south of France, and lived there until his death in 1965.\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Bantam Classics","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50662200148242,"sku":"9780553213928","price":5.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_79cb3bef-80ee-4f42-980d-7e051200c61f.jpg?v=1765971734","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/of-human-bondage-9780553213928","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}