Of Human Bondage (Annotated)
Enriched Edition. Autobiographical NovelBy William Somerset Maugham
Length29h 59m
About this audiobook
Of Human Bondage traces Philip Carey's painful education in desire, art, faith, and self-knowledge, from orphaned childhood and physical deformity to medical training and emotional disillusionment. Written in Maugham's lucid, unsentimental prose, the novel combines Bildungsroman, social realism, and philosophical inquiry. Its naturalistic attention to class, sexuality, and vocation places it between Victorian moral fiction and modernist skepticism, while its emotional force lies in Philip's struggle to free himself from illusions of romantic and spiritual necessity. William Somerset Maugham drew extensively on his own life in shaping the novel. Orphaned young, educated unhappily, trained as a physician, and marked by feelings of social and emotional estrangement, he transformed private experience into disciplined fiction rather than confession. His medical background sharpened his observational precision, while his cosmopolitan life and theatrical craft gave the narrative its economy, irony, and dramatic control. This is a rewarding book for readers interested in the making of a self under pressure from love, poverty, ambition, and belief. It should be read not merely as an autobiographical novel, but as a searching study of human dependence and liberation.
This enriched edition has been carefully crafted to add value to your reading experience.
- A succinct Introduction situates the work's timeless appeal and themes.
- The Synopsis outlines the central plot, highlighting key developments without spoiling critical twists.
- A detailed Historical Context immerses you in the era's events and influences that shaped the writing.
- An Author Biography reveals milestones in the author's life, illuminating the personal insights behind the text.
- A thorough Analysis dissects symbols, motifs, and character arcs to unearth underlying meanings.
- Reflection questions prompt you to engage personally with the work's messages, connecting them to modern life.
- Hand‐picked Memorable Quotes shine a spotlight on moments of literary brilliance.
- Interactive footnotes clarify unusual references, historical allusions, and archaic phrases for an effortless, more informed read.
Audiobook details
GenreLiterary Classics, General Fiction
Length29 hrs 59 mins
Narrated byListen with 1,000+ voices
FormateBook with Audio
Publish dateJun 7, 2022
LanguageEnglish
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