The Moon and Sixpence by Somerset Maugham

         THE MOON AND SIXPENCE BY SOMERSET MAUGHAM

Very Short Description (to keep you intrigued) :)

The story is told by the first-person narrator, who encounters Strickland, a middle-age stockbroker through the latter’s wife. Strickland leaves his wife and children as well as his job and travels to Paris to become an artist, although he has never drawn before.

My humble opinion

Although the storyline of The Moon and Sixpence is not the most extravagant one I was astonished by the colorful images this book arose in me.  The simplicity and at the same time the complexity of the life of the major character Strickland strikes one’s philosophy. It gives way to quiet reflexion about life’s values and struggles to do what one wants to do in order to achieve happiness.

Interesting Facts

The post-impressionist artist Gauguin inspired the major character –Strickland. So the book more or less describes Gauguin’s life as well as his art.

Why read?

For the sake of Art and the amazing descriptions of paintings!