The Summing Up is not an autobiography, albeit it is the only source of autobiographical facts you are get from Somerset Maugham, and the main source of everybody else's biography of Maugham. Written in 1938, when he was in his early sixties, it is a book of thoughts and reflections on a life which he assumed was coming to an end when in fact he had another thirty years to go. As such it is unusual and fascinating. I was fascinated by his thoughts on the theatre (it is often forgotten nowadays that Maugham was the most successful dramatist of his time) and his time as a British Intelligence agent in WW1 (see my review of Ashenden below). But actually the most absorbing part for me turned out to be the finally 20% on Maugham's philosophy, agnosticism and mysticism. These are not matters which usually concern me but Maugham managed to hook me in. He sets out all his workings and makes a very persuasive case.
An excellent book, highly recommended.
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