Of Human Bondage — A Brief Introduction
*Of Human Bondage* (1915) is W. Somerset Maugham's masterpiece, widely regarded as one of the greatest English novels of the twentieth century. It follows Philip Carey, an orphan born with a club foot, as he struggles against convention, self-consciousness, and destructive passion. After abandoning studies in Heidelberg, Paris, and accounting, Philip pursues medicine while falling into a humiliating, obsessive love for Mildred Rogers, a cold-hearted waitress who repeatedly betrays him. Drawing on Maugham's own experiences, the novel explores freedom, suffering, and the search for meaning. Ultimately, Philip breaks free from emotional bondage and finds quiet contentment in ordinary life.