“Beauty is an ecstasy; it is as simple as hunger. There is really nothing to be said about it. It is like the perfume of a rose: you can smell it and that is all.”

English writer, early 20th century

W. Somerset Maugham was an English writer of the early 20th century, known for his plays, novels, and short stories. He became widely read for work that combined clear storytelling with sharp observation of people and society. His writing includes plays, novels, and short fiction, and his reputation rests on the range and steady craftsmanship of that body of work.