by W. Somerset Maugham
About this book
W. Somerset Maugham's *The Moon and Sixpence* follows Charles Strickland, a respectable English stockbroker whose sudden abandonment of wife, children, and comfortable life shocks his entire social circle. Driven by an irresistible compulsion to create art, Strickland pursues his vision with single-minded intensity, leaving devastation in his wake as he chases what others dismiss as madness.
Inspired by the life of painter Paul Gauguin, this 1919 literary masterpiece explores the profound tension between societal expectations and individual artistic passion. Through the eyes of an unnamed narrator who encounters Strickland at various points in his journey, Maugham examines what it truly means to sacrifice everything for creative authenticity. The novel questions whether genius justifies cruelty, whether art transcends morality, and whether pursuing one's authentic self necessarily demands destroying others.
Rich with philosophical inquiry and keen psychological insight, *The Moon and Sixpence* remains a timeless exploration of ambition, sacrifice, and the price of greatness. Maugham's incisive prose and episodic storytelling reveal the contradictions inherent in Strickland's character—simultaneously repellent and compelling, selfish yet somehow admirable.
Perfect for listeners seeking thought-provoking literary fiction that challenges conventional morality and examines the nature of artistic genius, this classic novel endures as a meditation on whether the pursuit of beauty can ever be ethical.
