Of Human Bondage
Complete textOrphaned Philip Carey grows up with relatives and searches for a vocation through religion, art, and medical study. His physical insecurity and consuming attachments make independence elusive, while changing ambitions repeatedly force him to reconsider what might give his life direction and satisfaction.
Continue readingAbout Of Human Bondage
The novel follows development through reversals rather than a steady ascent toward maturity. Philip's self-scrutiny can be as confining as the social judgments he fears, and the narrative gives substantial space to work, illness, and economic uncertainty. Its recurring question is how an imagined life survives contact with actual need and disappointment.
Reading focus
Trace a restless education in work and attachment, shaped by insecurity, shifting ambitions, and the search for a livable purpose.
This reading edition contains 259,484 words in 122 original sections. Read the text online with adjustable type and three colour themes, or keep a printable PDF.
Author: W Somerset Maugham. Language: English. Reading edition: 28 October 2026.
Opening excerpt
The day broke gray and dull. The clouds hung heavily, and there was a rawness in the air that suggested snow. A woman servant came into a room in which a child was sleeping and drew the curtains. She glanced mechanically at the house opposite, a stucco house with a portico, and went to the child’s bed.
Contents
All sections- I3 min
- II5 min
- III8 min
- IV7 min
- V7 min
- VI10 min
- VII5 min
- VIII9 min
- IX10 min
- X6 min
- XI9 min
- XII6 min
- XIII5 min
- XIV10 min
- XV12 min
- XVI11 min
- XVII11 min
- XVIII7 min
- XIX8 min
- XX8 min
- XXI18 min
- XXII7 min
- XXIII9 min
- XXIV3 min
- XXV5 min
- XXVI13 min
- XXVII10 min
- XXVIII11 min
- XXIX6 min
- XXX12 min
- XXXI5 min
- XXXII13 min
- XXXIII17 min
- XXXIV9 min
- XXXV15 min
- XXXVI8 min
- XXXVII11 min
- XXXVIII12 min
- XXXIX8 min
- XL13 min
- XLI13 min
- XLII9 min
- XLIII13 min
- XLIV12 min
- XLV15 min
- XLVI10 min
- XLVII17 min
- XLVIII14 min
- XLIX12 min
- L14 min
- LI8 min
- LII12 min
- LIII10 min
- LIV10 min
- LV11 min
- LVI9 min
- LVII9 min
- LVIII11 min
- LIX13 min
- LX6 min
- LXI10 min
- LXII10 min
- LXIII7 min
- LXIV9 min
- LXV7 min
- LXVI11 min
- LXVII11 min
- LXVIII8 min
- LXIX14 min
- LXX13 min
- LXXI10 min
- LXXII10 min
- LXXIII15 min
- LXXIV11 min
- LXXV10 min
- LXXVI13 min
- LXXVII7 min
- LXXVIII12 min
- LXXIX13 min
- LXXX8 min
- LXXXI15 min
- LXXXII7 min
- LXXXIII9 min
- LXXXIV10 min
- LXXXV10 min
- LXXXVI8 min
- LXXXVII14 min
- LXXXVIII14 min
- LXXXIX7 min
- XC11 min
- XCI7 min
- XCII12 min
- XCIII9 min
- XCIV15 min
- XCV13 min
- XCVI15 min
- XCVII10 min
- XCVIII12 min
- XCIX6 min
- C15 min
- CI7 min
- CII6 min
- CIII10 min
- CIV8 min
- CV11 min
- CVI14 min
- CVII10 min
- CVIII14 min
- CIX13 min
- CX9 min
- CXI12 min
- CXII11 min
- CXIII12 min
- CXIV10 min
- CXV9 min
- CXVI12 min
- CXVII10 min
- CXVIII13 min
- CXIX10 min
- CXX9 min
- CXXI13 min
- CXXII7 min
Reading & download help
Is this the complete Of Human Bondage?
This edition contains the complete English literary text, with 122 sections and 259,484 words. This reading edition preserves the checked English text and its section order. No study notes have been added.
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