Of human Bondage

International Collectors Library | Garden City, New York | [1936]

A handsome decorative edition of W. Somerset Maugham’s Of Human Bondage, one of the defining novels of the early twentieth century and Maugham’s most enduring work.

Published by the International Collectors Library of Garden City, New York, this edition is bound in deep green with elaborate gilt decoration across the boards and spine. The ornate binding, decorated spine panels, and attached ribbon marker give the book the appearance of a traditional fine binding and make it an especially attractive shelf copy.

The edition includes a frontispiece by British artist Randolph Schwabe, depicting the art-school setting central to Philip Carey’s formative years.

First published in 1915 and drawing heavily upon Maugham's own experiences, Of Human Bondage follows Philip Carey from a difficult childhood through his years in Germany, Paris, and London as he searches for independence, purpose, and a place in the world. It remains Maugham's best-known novel and one of the major English coming-of-age novels of its period.