Of Human Bondage by W. Somerset Maugham
The novel follows the life of Philip Carey, a club-footed orphan who struggles with his disability and his passionate and unrequited love for a destructive woman. His journey takes him from a strict religious upbringing in England to an adventurous life in Paris where he attempts to become an artist before finally settling into a career in medicine. The story is a powerful exploration of human desire, ambition, and the search for meaning in life.
The 292nd greatest book of all time
Ranking Details:
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Total Points: 1148
This book was first published in 1915
25 Lists
- score: 190 -- 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die - 2006 (Weight: 180)
- score: 169 -- Harenberg Buch der 1000 Bücher - 2005 (Weight: 160)
- score: 160 -- The 100 Greatest British Novels - 2015 (Weight: 160)
- score: 152 -- Books Of The Century - 1999 (Weight: 150)
- score: 148 -- 1000 Novels Everyone Must Read - 2009 (Weight: 140)
- score: 79 -- The Modern Library | 100 Best Novels - 1999 (Weight: 79)
- score: 71 -- Have You Read 100 Great Books? - 1950 (Weight: 89)
- score: 52 -- William H. F. Lamont’s 100 Best Novels (1947) - 1947 (Weight: 70)
- score: 42 -- 150 Great Reads - 1988 (Weight: 40)
- score: 31 -- The Modern Library's 100 Best Novels: The Readers' List - 1998 (Weight: 30)
- score: 10 -- An Expert's 200-Book List - 1973 (Weight: 10)
- score: 10 -- Nancy Pearl's 100 Good Reads, Decade by Decade - 2009 (Weight: 10)
- score: 10 -- Readers’ Top 100 Novels Of All Time - 2026 (Weight: 10)
- score: 3 -- Choosing the Century's(20th) Favorite Books(1924) - 1924 (Weight: 10)
- score: 2 -- One Hundred Best Books (1916) - 1916 (Weight: 10)
- score: 1 -- Our Users' Honorable Mention Favorite Books of All Time - 2024 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- The Complete 500: OCLC - 2024 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- Top 100 Books - 1999 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- 100 Best Novels Written in English - 2015 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- 500 Must Read Books - 2013 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- 100 Books to Read in a Lifetime - 2014 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- Select 100 - 2015 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- Edmonton's Top 100 - 1998 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- The Greatest Books of All Time - 2022 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- 100 Must-Read Classics, as Chosen by our Readers - 2022 (Weight: 1)