John Boynton Priestley called this book “Maugham’s most honest work, in which the author allows himself to be himself.” A collection of essays on a variety of topics - history, literature, art and philosophy. From Immanuel Kant to William Hazlitt. From Henry James - before Dashiell Hammett and Raymond Chandler... Maugham's essays, fascinating, ironic and even provocative, delight the reader, fascinate him - but above all, they allow him to make amazing discoveries together with the author.