The Moon and Sixpence

The Moon and Sixpence
Name	The Moon and Sixpence
Author	W. Somerset Maugham
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English
Genre	Novel
Publisher	William Heinemann
Pub date	April 1919
Pages	314

The Moon and Sixpence. It is a 1919 novel by the English writer W. Somerset Maugham, loosely inspired by the life of the French artist Paul Gauguin. The narrative follows the abrupt and ruthless abandonment of a conventional life by a London stockbroker, who travels to Paris and later Tahiti to pursue painting. The novel explores the conflict between societal expectations and the obsessive drive of artistic genius, cementing Maugham's reputation as a master storyteller and keen observer of human nature.

Plot summary

The story is narrated by a writer who becomes acquainted with Charles Strickland, a dull and conventional London stockbroker. Strickland suddenly abandons his wife, Amy, and children to live in poverty in Paris, claiming a compulsion to paint. In Paris, he shows no remorse and is cared for by a kindly Dutch painter, Dirk Stroeve, whose wife, Blanche Stroeve, he callously seduces and destroys. After her tragic death, Strickland eventually sails to the South Pacific, settling in Tahiti. There, he contracts leprosy but creates his masterpieces on the walls of his hut before his death, as later described by a local doctor, Dr. Coutras. His work is posthumously recognized as that of a genius.

Background and publication

Maugham began writing the novel during a trip to Tahiti in 1916, where he researched the final years of Paul Gauguin. The title is thought to allude to a review of an earlier Maugham novel, *Of Human Bondage*, which described its protagonist as "so busy yearning for the moon that he never saw the sixpence at his feet." The book was first serialized in the American magazine *The International* from October to December 1918 before being published in volume form by William Heinemann in April 1919. Its publication coincided with a renewed interest in Post-Impressionism following exhibitions in London.

Themes and analysis

The central theme is the ruthless, amoral nature of artistic genius, examining whether great art justifies the destruction of conventional morality and personal relationships. Strickland's journey mirrors the Romantic archetype of the artist as an outcast, a theme also explored in works like Herman Melville's *Moby-Dick*. The novel questions the value of societal approval, symbolized by the "sixpence," versus transcendent, spiritual yearning, the "moon." Maugham also critiques the bourgeois values of Edwardian England and explores the clash between civilization and primal instinct, a concept influenced by the philosophies of Friedrich Nietzsche.

Characters

* Charles Strickland: The protagonist, a stockbroker who becomes a visionary painter, characterized by his brutal honesty and utter disregard for social norms. * The Narrator: A writer who pieces together Strickland's story through direct encounters and secondhand accounts, serving as Maugham's stand-in. * Amy Strickland: Strickland's conventional English wife, who rebuilds a respectable life in London as a successful hostess after his abandonment. * Dirk Stroeve: A sentimental and mediocre Dutch painter in Paris who recognizes Strickland's genius and suffers deeply for his kindness. * Blanche Stroeve: Dirk's wife, who leaves him for Strickland, leading to her tragic downfall. * Dr. Coutras: A physician in Tahiti who provides the final account of Strickland's last days and his monumental final work.

Critical reception

Upon release, the novel was a commercial success, though some contemporary critics, like those in *The Times Literary Supplement*, found Strickland's monstrous character difficult to reconcile with his artistic genius. Later assessments, such as those by biographer Ted Morgan, have praised its compelling narrative and psychological insight. The book solidified Maugham's position among prominent authors of his day, including E. M. Forster and Joseph Conrad, and remains a seminal fictional study of artistic obsession. Its exploration of the artist's role has invited comparison to Irving Stone's biographical novels.

Adaptations

The novel has been adapted for various media. A successful West End stage adaptation premiered in 1925. The first major film version was a 1942 American production by Albert Lewin, starring George Sanders as Strickland. A notable 1959 television adaptation featured Laurence Olivier in the lead role for the ITV series *ITV Play of the Week*. In 1989, a BBC television film starred John Hurt. The story's influence is also seen in later films about obsessive artists, such as Vincente Minnelli's *Lust for Life*.

Category:1919 British novels Category:Novels by W. Somerset Maugham