The purpose of this comprehensive study is to subject W. Somerset Maugham's total output to a closer scrutiny than has been attempted before. From John Whitehead's survey it emerges that certain assumptions that have arisen concerning Maugham's talent, and certain judgements which have been pronounced on individual books and plays, are in need of modification. Available for the first time in the U.S. Contents: Chronological check-list of the works of W. Somerset Maugham; Abbreviations; Introduction; 1. Late Victorian; 2. Edwardian; 3. Between the Wars: Far East; 4. Between the Wars: Plays; 5. Between the Wars: Europe; 6. World War II and After; 7. Prospect; Appendix 1: Edwardian Short Stories of W. Somerset Maugham; Appendix 2: Structure of R Of Human Bondage; Appendix 3: Chronology of Cakes and Ale; Appendix 4: Chronology of The Razor's Edge; Appendix 5: Maugham's Ten Greatest Novels in the World; Appendix 6: Dates of First Commercial English Production of Plays by Shaw, Barrie, Maugham, and Coward; Select Bibliography of Works Concerning W. Somerset Maugham; Index