The Moon and Sixpence

Name: The Moon and Sixpence
Author: William Somerset Maugham

The Moon and Sixpence is a novel by William Somerset Maugham that tells the story of Charles Strickland, a middle-aged artist who abandons his wife and children to pursue his passion for painting in Paris. The novel explores themes of art, love, and the human condition, as Strickland navigates his new life in France and grapples with the consequences of his decision.

By William Somerset Maugham · First published 1919 · Genre: Fiction, Literary Fiction, Psychological Fiction · 58 chapters · 88,140 words

First lines

I confess that when first I made acquaintance with Charles Strickland I never for a moment discerned that there was in him anything out of the ordinary. Yet now few will be found to deny his greatness. I do not speak of that greatness which is achieved by the fortunate politician or the successful soldier; that is a quality which belongs to the place he occupies rather than to the man; and a change of circumstances reduces it to very discreet proportions. The Prime Minister out of office is seen, too often, to have been but a pompous rhetorician, and the General without an army is but the tame hero of a market town. The greatness of Charles Strickland was authentic. It may be that you do not like his art, but at all events you can hardly refuse it the tribute of your interest. He disturbs and arrests. The time has passed when he was an object of ridicule, and it is no longer a mark of eccentricity to defend or of perversity to extol him.

What this Textopian page supports

The Moon and Sixpence is listed on Textopian as a novel by William Somerset Maugham, dated 1919 CE.

This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.

Work type: Novel
Author: William Somerset Maugham
Date: 1919 CE
Language: English
Genres: Fiction, Literary Fiction, Psychological Fiction, Biographical Fiction
Length: 88,140 words
Structure: 58 chapters, 1,839 paragraphs
Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)

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Similar titles

Genres

Fiction — The book falls under Fiction because it presents a story that is imagined or invented rather than based entirely in fact, exploring the life of an English painter who lived primarily in Tahiti.
Literary Fiction — The Moon and Sixpence is characterized by its focus on the internal thoughts and feelings of the characters, its multiple layers of meaning, and its deliberate use of language, elements that are typical of Literary Fiction.
Psychological Fiction — The book also falls under the genre of Psychological Fiction because it deeply explores the psyche and emotions of its protagonist, examining his pursuit of an obsession and the choices he makes as he rejects the societal norms.
Biographical Fiction — Although a work of fiction, the book resembles the genre of Biographical Fiction due to its close parallels to the life of the French painter Paul Gauguin, who rejected conventional life to live and paint in Tahiti.