“The Facts of Life” by Somerset Maugham short story summary, British Literature - III, 2nd Year 3rd Semester, B.A English Literature,The Facts of Life summary

 B.A English Literature

[2nd Year, 3rd Semester]

British Literature 

UNIT - 4 : Short Story

4.3. “The Facts of Life” by Somerset Maugham

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 About Author:

William Somerset Maugham (1874-1965) was a British novelist, playwright, short-story writer, highest paid author in the world in the 1930s. Despite his popularity, Maugham did not gain serious recognition. This was expressed in his autobiography The Summing Up (1938) that he stood 'in the very first row of the second-raters'.

     Somerset Maugham has written 24 plays, 19 novels and a large number of short stories. The most mature period of his life began in 1915.

    His reputation as a novelist is based on the following prominent books: “Of Human Bondage”, “The Moon and Sixpence”, "Cakes and Ale", "Theatre", and “The Razor's Edge”. In many novels the surroundings are international and the stories are told in clear, economical style with cynical or resigned undertone.

About Story:

      The Facts of Life by William Somerset Maugham was published in International Magazine in April 1939.

        The story is about Nicky Garnet, the son of well-known broker and a good bridge player. This story is told by his father Henry Garnet.

Characters:

        - Henry Garnet - Nicky’s father

- Nicholas Garnet - 18 years old boy

- Mrs. Garnet - Nicky’s Mother

- Colonel Brabazon - non-playing captain, talks about Monte Carlo                          tennis tournament with Henry.

- Young Lady - 4 years older than Nicky.

Summary:

     Nicholas (Nicky) was a successful boy for his age, pleasant appearance gave the girls’ attention to him, model behaviour made his parents to be proud of him, the great success in the lawn tennis made his father adore him.

     The plot of the story is about one lucky day of Nicky’s life. The day when he went to Monte Carlo to take part in the tennis tournament. He didn’t make much a go of it, but didn’t go unnoticed.

     Before the trip his father had said him very important advice. They were that there were three things especially that he wanted to warn Nicky against: one was gambling, he shouldn’t gamble; the second was money, he shouldn’t lend anyone money; and the third was women, he shouldn’t have anything to do with women. Nicky promised that he wouldn’t forget it and he didn’t.

    But it didn’t mean no to do it, that he thought. So he made up his mind to go to the Sporting club where he tried everything which was forbidden. He won twenty thousand-franc notes in the roulette, he lent the money to unknown woman and spent a night with her. The woman thereafter stole his money.

    The most intriguing moment was the scene when Nicky tried to steal his own money. Nicholas took not only his money back but also woman’s money and he proved to his father that his advice were wrong. Everything was better than he had expected.

    Henry just didn’t want his son think that he was a clever and canny boy but Nicky was just very lucky one.

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