Of Human Bondage, published in 1915, is W. Somerset Maugham’s semi-autobiographical bildungsroman. It follows Philip Carey, a sensitive and clubfooted orphan, through his struggles with identity, love, and meaning. His obsession with the manipulative Mildred forms a central emotional conflict. Maugham explores human frailty, artistic ambition, and existential yearning with unflinching honesty. The novel’s psychological realism and emotional resonance have made it a landmark in 20th-century literature, often hailed as Maugham’s finest work.
