69 pages • 2 hours read
W. Somerset MaughamOf Human Bondage
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1915A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
Of Human Bondage by W. Somerset Maugham is a 1915 novel that follows the life of Philip Carey, who is orphaned at a young age and raised by his strict uncle and aunt in late 19th-century England. He grapples with loneliness, social class struggles, and his clubfoot disability, as he searches for purpose in various careers and relationships, ultimately finding meaning in love and family. The novel includes discussions of stillbirth, suicide, alcoholism, sex work, and discrimination based on a disability.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Of Human Bondage by W. Somerset Maugham is widely praised for its deep character development and exploration of human nature. Reviewers commend its insight into personal freedom, though some note the protagonist's journey can feel overly bleak. The novel's autobiographical elements enrich its authenticity, though a few readers find its pace slow. A profound classic overall.
Who Should Read Of Human Bondage?
Readers who revel in profound character studies and complex emotional landscapes will be captivated by Of Human Bondage by W. Somerset Maugham. Similar in appeal to fans of Dostoevsky’s Crime and Punishment and Hardy’s Tess of the d'Urbervilles, this novel delves into the intricacies of human frailty, ambition, and desire.