The Magician

Name: The Magician
Price: 7.49 USD
Availability: InStock
ISBN: 9781512131505

✍️ W Somerset Maugham

Reader Score

4.4

(1 review)

$7.49

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📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

Maugham's memoir of leaving medicine for writing after 1897.

The author recounts his life after qualifying as a doctor in 1897. He recalls publishing Liza of Lambeth during medical school, which caused mild sensation. This success prompted him to abandon medicine. He traveled to Spain and spent over a year in Seville. The text covers his amusement there and the writing of a subsequent novel he considers poor. It offers a direct look at his career change from St Thomas's Hospital to the literary world.

Key Themes

medical qualification literary career shift Seville residence

Literary Context

This memoir reflects on events in 1897 and the following year. It covers Maugham's time at St Thomas's Hospital and his subsequent move to Seville, Spain. The text addresses the late nineteenth-century context of a doctor leaving practice for writing after publishing Liza of Lambeth.

Difficulty

● Easy

Recommended For Fans Of

Arthur Conan Doyle · Oscar Wilde · Virginia Woolf

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Horror Fiction

🏛 Createspace Independent Publishing Platform 📅 2015 🌐 English 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9781512131505

📝 Description: The Magician

W Somerset Maugham presents a memoir detailing his transition from medical practice to professional authorship. The narrative begins in 1897, marking the point after he passed examinations at St Thomas's Hospital that allowed him to practice medicine. This account covers the period following his qualification as a doctor and his subsequent decision to abandon the profession. The text describes his time as a medical student when he published Liza of Lambeth, a novel that caused a mild sensation. He explains how this early success led him to rashly decide to earn his living as a writer rather than continue in medicine. The memoir covers his departure for Spain immediately after becoming qualified. It details the best part of a year he spent in Seville, where he amused himself and wrote another novel, which he later describes as bad. This work suits readers interested in late nineteenth-century literary history and the personal accounts of established authors reflecting on their early careers. It provides concrete details about Maugham’s life during this specific transitional phase. The book may not appeal to those seeking extensive plot-driven fiction or detailed medical case studies, as the focus remains strictly on his biographical shift from hospital practice to writing in Spain.

💎 Our verdict on The Magician

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Horror Reads editorial team

Horror desk

Maugham provides a clear and unembellished account of his decision to abandon medicine for writing, anchored by the mild sensation of Liza of Lambeth. The narrative effectively captures the amusement of his year in Seville and his honest critique of subsequent works. While it lacks the dramatic tension of horror, its value lies in its historical accuracy regarding late Victorian literary life. It suits readers seeking biographical depth rather than plot-driven fiction. The tone is reflective and direct, offering a solid foundation for understanding his later output. It serves as a useful bridge between medical history and literary criticism.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

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Why this book is worth reading

Readers interested in the biographical underpinnings of classic literature will find this account valuable for understanding Maugham’s origins. It offers a rare glimpse into the mindset of an author leaving a stable profession for artistic pursuit, detailing his time in Seville and early struggles. Those who enjoy honest self-assessment and historical context regarding literary careers will appreciate the direct look at his shift from St Thomas's Hospital to writing. It is ideal for fans who prefer autobiographical insights over fictional plots, providing concrete details about his life during this specific transitional phase without the noise of later fame.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

Reader rating

4.4

Based on 1 reviews

Horror Reads editorial team

Maugham provides a clear and unembellished account of his decision to abandon medicine for writing, anchored by the mild sensation of Liza of Lambeth. The narrative effectively captures the amusement of his year in Seville and his honest critique of subsequent works. While it lacks the dramatic tension of horror, its value lies in its historical accuracy regarding late Victorian literary life. It suits readers seeking biographical depth rather than plot-driven fiction. The tone is reflective and direct, offering a solid foundation for understanding his later output. It serves as a useful bridge between medical history and literary criticism.