Which famous author was born in the British Embassy in Paris in 1874?
William Somerset Maugham was a famous English author, novelist and playwright. His popularity lies in the fact that by early 1930's, he had become the highest paid author of his era. His most famous works include novels Of Human Bondage, The Razor's Edge and The Moon and Sixpence and short stories "Footprints In The Jungle", "Rain" and "The Outstation".
Maugham was born on 25 January 1874 in Paris in the British Embassy. His father was an English lawyer and solicitor to the British Embassy in Paris. His grandfather was also an English lawyer and a cofounder of the English law society and it was expected that Maugham would follow his father and grandfather in their successful legal career.
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33 Comments
Jacqueline Tattam
Debbie Dunton, world famous authors - not only have we have heard of them but have read their works and seen many films based on those works - The Razor’s Edge, Our Man in Havana, Lucky Jim and The Jungle Book, to name but a few. Perhaps you should visit a library occasionally...
William Laughlin
Lydia Coutts,
He is British. The soil on which embassies anywhere are located are considered sovereign to the nations they represent. The embassy of Great Britain in the US is considered British soil.
JRW
I am surprised that over half opted for Kipling who was born in India. But then I was a scout long ago and knew about the Jungle Book.
JRW
Jon Woolery, and Kipling was born in India. So then there was one.
Francie Carlson
Ruled Rudyard Kipling and Graham Greene immediately. I remembered that Somerset Maugham was born in Paris so I went with Somerset Maugham.
earlepg
Knew it wasn't Kipling. My guess immediately upon reading his name was Maugham.
Neil Owen
good Q and A
Player
I was not confident and asked the majority. Their answer was different from mine and they were wrong. I should have gone with my own answer which was right.
Susan Martin
filmnut, Razor's Edge is my favourite too and so is Tyrone Power ;)
Jerry Edwards
Jon Woolery,
I used a 50/50 and did the same. Knew it couldn't be Greene.
Great question once again from Stevie G.
filmnut
Well You pretty covered his works: The Tyrone Powers Film the “Razor’s Edge” is actually one of my very favorite films, that and “Black Narcissus”.
Jas Newman
Lydia Coutts, Born in the Brit embassy + Brit parents = Brit cit.
Jas Newman
Karin Johansson,Your comment" "
Famous? Where? Not outside Great Britain!"— I've lived on six continents. These writers were famous on all six. Maybe your world isn't as wide as you seem to think it is.
Howard Groopman
Woo-hoo, had to guess on this one, and ended up with 10 out of 10.
Louise C.
Thank you for the great literary trivia Stevie G.
Jon Woolery
I got this one only after eliminating two—Kipling and Greene—because their active years seemed to conflict with the given 1874 date of birth. Then it was 50-50.
Kitty White
Read Of Human Bondage and The Razor' Edge. Good books.