“The Ten Greatest Novels of Mankind” are witty, original reflections on time, life and literature, non-standard and vivid notes on the merits and demerits of geniuses. Maugham does not recognize authorities in art and evaluates in his own way the works of Balzac and Stendhal, Dickens and Bronte, Tolstoy and Dostoevsky. His opinion often differs from the generally accepted one. The more interesting it is to read his essays, the more amazing discoveries they promise.