William Somerset Maugham "The Moon and Sixpence"

Summary, 1-13 chapters

The narrator, Crabbe, knows a man named Charles Strickland for a several years, and many years later, Strickland becomes a famous painter. Crabbe decides to write a book about Strickland, and he talks about what he remembers of his experiences with Strickland. He also goes around Tahiti where Strickland lived his last years, and the narrator hears the stories of various people who remember Strickland. For most of Strickland's paintings, he is anti-social, and considered by all to be without talent, so it is a great surprise when he turns out to be a painting genius.

Crabbe first meets Strickland through his wife, Mrs. Strickland. Crabbe is a young writer in London, and Mrs. Strickland loves hosting parties for writers. When Charles leaves his wife, she sends Crabbe to Paris to beg him to come back, certain he has left her for another woman. When Crabbe confronts Strickland, Strickland says that he does not care about his wife and children, he doesn't love them. Strickland lech for painting pictures. So Crabbe isn't able to convince him to return home. Strickland was unshakeable.