The Moon and SixpenceThe Moon and Sixpence, published in 1919, was one of the novels that galvanized W. Somerset Maughams reputation as a literary master. It follows the life of one Charles Strickland, a bourgeois city gent whose dull exterior conceals the soul of a genius. Compulsive and impassioned, he abandons his home, wife, and children to devote himself slavishly to painting. In a tiny studio in Paris, he fills canvas after canvas, refusing to sell or even exhibit his work. Beset by poverty, sickness, and his own intransigent, unscrupulous nature, he drifts to Tahiti, where, even after being blinded by leprosy, he produces some of his most extraordinary works of art. Inspired by the life of Paul Gauguin, The Moon and Sixpence is an unforgettable study of a man possessed by the need to createregardless of the cost to himself and to others. |
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absinthe absurd answered Anton Chekhov artist asked Avenue de Clichy beauty Blanche Stroeve Captain Nichols Charles Strickland Colonel MacAndrew colour comfort concierge Coutras cried damned dinner Dirk Stroeve door El Greco emotion excited eyes face fancy feel fellow felt fool francs friends gave girl give hands heard heart husband imagine impression indifferent island Jack London knew laugh looked married Marseilles mind natives never night Oscar Wilde painter painting Papeete pareo Paris passion Paumotus perhaps played POEMS poor remembered Richard Twining round seemed seen seized shoulders shrugged silent sitting smile sometimes soul speak story strange street Strick Strickland lived Stroeve's studio suddenly suppose sympathy Tahiti talk tell there's thing thought Tiaré told took Tough Bill turned walked Waterford wife William Shakespeare woman women wondered word