Of Human Bondage

About “Of Human Bondage”

Of Human Bondage is a 1915 novel and bildungsroman by William Somerset Maugham. It follows Philip Carey, a self-conscious orphan with a club-foot who studies medicine. The story explores themes of loneliness, obsessive love, and the search for meaning. Told in the third person, the novel is considered a significant work in the bildungsroman tradition. It is largely based on Maugham's own life, adding personal depth and contributing to his long-term public success.