The Moon and Sixpence
“The Moon and Sixpence” is a novel by British author W. Somerset Maugham. Based loosely on the life of French painter Paul Gauguin, the story follows the protagonist Charles Strickland, a middle-aged stockbroker who abandons his comfortable life to pursue his passion for painting. The novel delves into themes of art, ambition, and the struggle between personal dreams and societal expectations.
About This Ebook
“The Moon and Sixpence” unfolds through the eyes of a first-person narrator, focusing on the life of Charles Strickland, a seemingly ordinary London stockbroker with a wife and children. At the age of forty, Strickland abruptly leaves his family and moves to Paris to dedicate himself entirely to painting. Despite facing poverty, illness, and isolation, he remains resolute in his artistic pursuit. Eventually, he relocates to Tahiti in the South Pacific, where he finds inspiration and creates some of his most remarkable works. Tragically, his life ends in sorrow, yet his legacy as an artist endures. This novel not only examines the tension between art and life but also challenges readers to reflect on the essence of human existence and the cost of following one’s true calling.