William Somerset Maugham was a distinguished English writer, celebrated for his plays, novels, and short stories. Born in Paris, Maugham spent his early years there before continuing his education in England and then at a German university. Despite qualifying as a physician in 1897, he never practiced medicine, choosing instead to dedicate his life to writing. His literary career was ignited with the publication of his first novel, Liza of Lambeth (1897), which captured the harsh realities of slum life and garnered significant attention.

By 1908, Maugham had achieved national celebrity status with four plays concurrently running in London's West End. Although he wrote his last play in 1933, he remained prolific in other literary forms, particularly novels and short stories. Among his most famous works are Of Human Bondage (1915), The Moon and Sixpence (1919), The Painted Veil (1925), Cakes and Ale (1930), and The Razor's Edge (1944). His short stories, notably collected in The Casuarina Tree (1926) and The Mixture as Before (1940), have also received critical acclaim and widespread adaptation across media.

Maugham's commercial success did not shield him from criticism, with some dismissing his work as merely competent. However, contemporary evaluations often regard Of Human Bondage, with its significant autobiographical elements, as a masterpiece. Maugham's prose, celebrated for its clear and lucid style, has nonetheless faced criticism for its reliance on clichés.

Aside from his literary career, Maugham's life was marked by his service in the British Secret Service during World War I and his personal relationships. Despite his primary homosexual relationships, most notably with Gerald Haxton and later Alan Searle, Maugham attempted to adhere to the social norms of his time, including a marriage to Syrie Wellcome with whom he had a daughter, Liza. Maugham's later years were spent on the French Riviera, indulging in lavish hospitality until his passing at the age of 91.