Story # 5: Mr Know - all by Somerset Maugham

Somerset Maugham was a British fiction writer, essayist and playwright known for works like Of Human Bondage and The Razor's Edge.  

Born in Paris, France (25 January 1874 – 16 December 1965) he studied medicine before turning to writing, eventually releasing well-known works like Of Human Bondage, Cakes and Ale and The Razor's Edge. 

A successful London playwright as well as an essayist and short-story writer, Maugham also faced critiques for his cynicism and harsh portrayals. He was among the most popular writers of his era and reputedly the highest paid author during the 1930s.^[1]

After losing both his parents by the age of 10, Maugham was raised by a paternal uncle who was emotionally cold. Not wanting to become a lawyer like other men in his family, Maugham eventually trained and qualified as a medical doctor (physician). The first run of his first novel, Liza of Lambeth (1897), sold out so rapidly that Maugham gave up medicine to write full-time.

Today, Maugham is probably best known as a short story writer. His clear, lucid and economical style makes easy reading and his short stories have been reprinted frequently in collected editions. Maugham said himself: "I have never pretended to be anything but a story teller."

Mr Know All

1. Who is the narrator? How do you know he dislikes Mr. Kelada? What is it that causes this dislike?

2. Why do you think Mr. Kelada lied to Mr. Ramsay? Do you think he was right?

3. Who do you think the  hundred dollar note came from? Mr. or Mrs. Ramsay? If it was Mrs. Ramsay, what message is she sending to Mr. Kelada? If it was Mr. Ramsay, why has he given it back?

4. What do you think happens between Mr. and Mrs. Ramsey that night? How much, if any, of the truth does she tell him?

5. Talking about lying and deception, who deceives whom?