Somerset Maugham, a renowned British novelist, playwright, and short-story writer, held the distinction of being the highest-paid author in the world during the 1930s. Prior to his literary career, Maugham graduated from St. Thomas' Medical School in 1897 and qualified as a doctor. However, he abandoned his medical pursuits following the success of his initial novels and plays.
During World War I, Maugham worked as a secret agent, and his experiences in the secret service influenced his writing. In 1928, he settled in Cap Ferrat, France, from where he embarked on journeys around the world. Maugham's spy novel, "Ashenden; or The British Agent" (1928),is partly based on his own experiences as a secret agent.
Maugham's transition from secret agent to writer was reminiscent of classic writers such as Christopher Marlowe, Ben Johnson, and Daniel Defoe, as well as contemporary writers like Graham Greene, John le Carré, John Dickson Carr, Alec Waugh, and Ted Allbeury. Critics have likened Maugham's skill in handling plot to that of Guy de Maupassant.
Many of Maugham's novels are set against international backdrops, and his stories are told in a clear, economical style, often with a cynical or resigned undertone. Despite his success as an author, Maugham was never knighted. His relationship with Gerald Haxton, his secretary, has been the subject of speculation over the years.
