Monday 21 March 2011

WRITER, PLAYWRIGHT, MEDIC, SPY - William Somerset Maugham


"There are three rules for writing a novel.  Unfortunately, no one knows what they are."  ~ William Somerset Maugham
William Somerset Maugham was born in the British Embassy in Paris.


By the time he was ten, both William’s parents were dead.

His uncle, a Minister in the Church of England, took him in.

Maugham became a medical student.

His first novel sold well, so he decided to abandon medicine and become a full-time writer.

Maugham found fame when his plays about marriage and manners became popular.

At the age of 40, during WWI, Maugham joined a Red Cross ambulance unit in France and served on the Western Front

Sir John Wallinger, head of Britain’s Military Intelligence (MI6) recruited Maugham act as an agent.  

He acted as a link between MI6 in London and its agents working in Europe.

Between writing and spying, Maugham had time to form long lasting relationships with both men and women.

I should think he found a lot to write about. :D


5 comments:

  1. Wow, that guy sounds awesome. I bet he had so many things he couldn't write about as well!

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  2. Hi Abby
    I was fascinated. So much had happened in his life, I can't see him being boring to chat to ;)

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  3. Wow. He sounds quite interesting. A spy. Yeah, he should totally have plenty to write about. I love the quote about there are three rules to writing but no one knows what they are. So true.

    Great post. Thanks for sharing.

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  4. Hi Angela
    I'm ashamed to say I knew almost nothing about Somerset Maugham except his name and that quote about writing. He has jumped onto my to-be-read list. Perhaps, I'll be able to find a play being staged somewhere.

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  5. I read a good recent bio of him last year, which inspired me to read his short stories. He was considered a master of the genre.

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