Of Human Bondage"...all they have been told are lies, lies, lies; and each discovery is another nail driven into the body on the cross of life." -W. Somerset Maugham, Of Human Bondage (1915) Of Human Bondage (1915) by W. Somerset Maugham is considered a semi-autobiographical work and has been critically acclaimed as one of the best English novels of the twentieth century. The plot follows the life of Philip Carey who, like Maugham, is orphaned at a young age and sent to live with a cold, unfeeling uncle. Carey travels life's path in search of success and happiness, and the author captures the essence of this journey perfectly. This novel is for those who enjoy the plight of the common man and classic literature that stands the test of time. |
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Common terms and phrases
amused answered asked Philip Athelny Aunt Louisa awfully beauty began better Blackstable Carey Chalice church club-foot Clutton Cronshaw d'you dinner Doctor South door dress Dunsford El Greco Erlin eyes face feeling Frau Professor Fräulein friends gave girl Griffiths hair hand happy Hayward head heard heart HUMAN BONDAGE Josiah Graves King's School kissed knew laughed Lawson lived London married Mary Ann matter Mildred mind Miss Wilkinson morning music-hall never night Norah once painted Paris passed passion Perkins Philip felt Philip looked Philip saw Philip thought realised Rose round Sally seemed shillings silent smile sorry soul spoke stood street suddenly talk tell Tercan there's things told Tom Perkins took turned uncle Upjohn Vicar vicarage voice waiting walked week wife Wigram William Carey woman wondered words
Popular passages
Page 65 - Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done. And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.
Page 42 - GOD, whose blessed Son was manifested that he might destroy the works of the devil, and make us the sons of GOD, and heirs of eternal life ; grant us, we beseech thee, that having this hope, we may purify ourselves, even as he is pure...
Page 580 - This little pig went to market. This little pig stayed at home. This little pig had roast beef. This little pig had none. This little pig cried, "Wee, wee!
Page 666 - As the weaver elaborated his pattern, for no end but the pleasure of his aesthetic sense, so might a man live his life, or if one was forced to believe that his actions were outside his choosing, so might a man look at his life, that it made a pattern. There was as little need to do this as there was use. It was merely something he did for his own pleasure.
Page 155 - It is an illusion that youth is happy, an illusion of those who have lost it ; but the young know they are wretched, for they are full of the truthless ideals which have been instilled into them, and each time they come in contact with the real they are bruised and wounded.
Page 67 - ... as though it were the most natural thing in the world.'
Page 54 - I say, let's look at your foot," he said. "No," answered Philip. He jumped into bed quickly. "Don't say no to me," said Singer. "Come on, Mason." The boy in the next cubicle was looking round the corner, and at the words he slipped in. They made for Philip and tried to tear the bed-clothes off him, but he held them tightly. "Why can't you leave me alone?" he cried. Singer seized a brush and with the back of it beat Philip's hands clenched on the blanket. Philip cried out. "Why don't you show us your...
Page 312 - Money is like a sixth sense without which you cannot make a complete use of the other five.
Page 52 - Philip saw a boy running past and tried to catch him, but his limp gave him no chance; and the runners, taking their opportunity, made straight for the ground he covered. Then one of them had the brilliant idea of imitating Philip's clumsy run. Other boys saw it and began to laugh; then they all copied the first; and they ran round Philip, limping grotesquely, screaming in their treble voices with shrill amusement, and choked with helpless merriment.
Page 225 - But Philip ceased to think of her a moment after he had settled down in his carriage. He thought only of the future. He had written to Mrs. Otter, the massiere to whom Hayward had given him an introduction, and had in his pocket an invitation to tea on the following day.