The Trembling of a Leaf Collection – Rain & Other South Sea Stories: The Pacific, Mackintosh, The Fall of Edward Barnard, Red, The Pool, Honolulu, Rain, Envoi

William Somerset Maugham

Dec 2023 · DigiCat

About this ebook

This carefully edited collection has been designed and formatted to the highest digital standards and adjusted for readability on all devices. William Somerset Maugham (1874 - 1965) was a British playwright, novelist and short story writer. He was among the most popular writers of his era and reputedly the highest paid author during the 1930s. Content: The Trembling of a Leaf: Little Stories of the South Sea Islands The Pacific Mackintosh The Fall of Edward Barnard Red The Pool Honolulu Rain Envoi

About the author

William Somerset Maugham, born in 1874 in Paris, was an English playwright, novelist, and short story writer, whose works are characterized by a clear, unadorned style, shrewd insight into human behavior, and a wry, though often sympathetic, outlook on the foibles of humanity. Maugham's vocational journey commenced in medicine, but literature's allure proved stronger, compelling a shift to writing after the success of his first novel, 'Liza of Lambeth' (1897). His tenure in the literary world was marked by prolific output and variety, encompassing critically acclaimed novels, short stories, and plays. Notably, Maugham's experiences as a secret agent during World War I and his travels to the South Seas and the Far East imbued his narratives with rich settings and diverse characters, as seen in 'The Trembling of a Leaf Collection – Rain & Other South Sea Stories' (1921). This collection, comprising stories set in the Pacific, reflects Maugham's signature style—exploration of human nature under the guise of colonial settings and the poignant study of Eastern and Western cultural contrasts. His works remain influential, not only for their literary merit but also for their exploration of ethical and existential dilemmas within the context of early 20th-century modernism. Maugham continued writing until his death in 1965, leaving behind a substantial legacy that cements his place as one of the foremost figures of 20th-century English literature.