chapter毛姆WilliamSomersetMaugham英文简介PPT课件

1、William Somerset Maugham 第1页/共32页William Somerest Maugham a famous British novelist playwright and short story writer. He was among the most popular writers of his era and reputedly the highest paid author during the 1930s (25 January 1874 16 December 1965)第2页/共32页Brief Introduction to his life1.Chi

2、ldhoodBirth: His father was a lawyer who handled the legal affairs of British embassy in Pairs, and Maugham was born there. 第3页/共32页 2.orphan experience When he was 8 years old, his mother passed away, and at the age of 10, his father also passed away. And he inherited parents legarcy which was 300

3、pounds every year. The early death of his mother left Maugham traumatized; he kept his mothers photograph by his bedside for the rest of his life. After that, Maugham was sent to UK to be raised by a paternal uncle and the move was damaging,as Henry Maugham was cold and emotionally cruel第4页/共32页 The

4、 boy attended The Kings School, Canterbury, which was also difficult for him. He was teased for his bad English (French had been his first language) and his short stature, which he inherited from his father. Maugham developed a stammer that would stay with him all his life, although it was sporadic

5、and subject to mood and circumstance.第5页/共32页 Miserable both at his uncles vicarage and at school, the young Maugham developed a talent for making wounding remarks to those who displeased him. This ability is sometimes reflected in Maughams literary characters.第6页/共32页 . At sixteen, Maugham at The K

6、ings School. His uncle allowed him to travel to Germany, where he studied literature, philosophy and German at Heidelberg University.（Heidelberg University）第7页/共32页 During his year in Heidelberg, Maugham met and had a sexual affair with John Ellingham Brooks, an Englishman ten years his senior 5.sex

7、ual affairs第8页/共32页 6.Marriage and family Although Maughams first and many other sexual relationships were with men, he also had sexual relationships with a number of women. He had an affair with Syrie Wellcome, the wife of Henry Wellcome, the American-born English pharmaceutical magnate. They had a

8、 daughter named Mary Elizabeth Wellcome, (19151998). Henry Wellcome sued his wife for divorce, naming Maugham as co-respondent. 第9页/共32页 In May 1917, following the decree absolute, Syrie Wellcome and Maugham were married. Syrie Maugham became a noted interior decorator who in the 1920s popularized t

9、he all-white room. Their daughter was familiarly called Liza and her surname was changed to Maugham. Syrie finally divorced him in 1929, finding his relationship and travels with Haxton too difficult to live with.第10页/共32页 His grandfather, had been a prominent lawyer ,and his father and three older

10、brothers were all distinguished lawyers so Maugham was asked to be excused from the duty of following in their footsteps.第11页/共32页 Maugham had been writing steadily since the age of 15 and fervently wished to become an author, but as he was not of age, he refrained from telling his guardian. For the

11、 next five years, he studied medicine at St Thomas Hospital in Lambeth, London. During these 5 years, he not only had a chance to know the living condition of the lowest class people, but developed keen eyes to analyse human and society as well.第12页/共32页 During World War1, he worked to save the woun

12、ded soilders at the frontline, especially the firing line, in Belgium. Later, he worked as a secret agent for Britain and gathered information in Geneva. He has also been sent on a diplomatic mission to try to persuade the Russian goverment retreat from the war. And this period of time was written i

13、nto some of his works. 第13页/共32页 In 1916, he traveled to the south Pacific Ocean. And since then, he has traveled to the Far East for many times. In 1920, he came to China in which he wrote his travelsOn Chinese Screenin 1922 and a full-length novelThe Painted Veilwhose background is based on Chines

14、e culture in1925 . After this, he has also been to South America and India, which added many exotic atmopheres to his works. 第14页/共32页 During World War II, he went to America where he stayed almost 6 years. In 1946, he went back to France. In his later life, he enjoyed a high reputation in both Fren

15、ce and Britain. In 1959, he made his last journey to the Far East. On Dec. 15th 1965, he passed away in Riviera,France at the age of 91.第15页/共32页His Works Drama第16页/共32页Long novels第17页/共32页short novels第18页/共32页comedies第19页/共32页Others第20页/共32页 Notable Works His reputation as a novelist rests primaril

16、y on these books:第21页/共32页On Chinese Screen第22页/共32页第23页/共32页第24页/共32页His Writing Style Influenced by the published journals of the French writer Jules Renard, Ibsen and Oscar Wilde. Maugham had enjoyed for their conscientiousness, wisdom and wit.第25页/共32页 His comedies was influenced by Oscar Wilde

17、a lot. mianly about family, love and the twists in marriage. describe the situations and customs in the upper class . express the doubts about the society morality. more satiric than humourous. He always hold calm, impersomal aloof even particular attitudes with some satire and mercy to observe life

18、 in almost all his works. 第26页/共32页 第27页/共32页quotes 1.It is an illusion that youth is happy, an illusion of those who have lost it. 2.Beauty is an ecstasy; it is as simple as hunger. There is really nothing to be said about it. It is like the perfume of a rose: you can smell it and that is all.第28页/

19、共32页 3.The artist produces for the liberation of his soul. It is his nature to create as it is the nature of water to run down the hill. 4.Its no good trying to keep up old friendships. Its painful for both sides. The fact is, one grows out of people, and the only thing is to face it. 5.We know our friends by their defects rather than by their merits. 第29页/共32页 6.Imagination grows by exercise and contrary to common belief