The Merry-Go-Round

Love, marriage, and the quiet comedy of human folly.

In W. Somerset Maugham’s early masterpiece, The Merry-Go-Round (1902), the lives of several inhabitants of a small Kentish town intertwine in a witty and perceptive portrait of Edwardian society. At the center is Miss Ley, a sharp-tongued, independent spinster who observes with amused detachment the romantic entanglements around her: a young doctor torn between duty and desire, a mismatched marriage strained by class differences, a passionate affair that defies convention, and the quiet disappointments of respectable lives.

With elegant prose, keen social insight, and his trademark irony, Maugham explores themes of love, ambition, hypocrisy, and the compromises people make in pursuit of happiness. The novel’s interlocking stories reveal the merry-go-round of human relationships—where desire, social expectation, and self-deception keep everyone spinning. Written before Maugham’s major international successes, it already displays the psychological depth and worldly wisdom that would define his later work.

• First published in 1902
• One of Maugham’s earliest novels, showcasing his emerging mastery of character and social satire
• Features the memorable Miss Ley, who later reappears in Mrs Craddock

Available in multiple formats:

• Paperback & Hardcover: Elegant print editions presenting the complete, unabridged text, ideal for your bookshelf.
• Ebook: DRM-free EPUB compatible with Kindle, Kobo, Apple Books, and all major e-readers.
• Audiobook: Professionally narrated, complete and unabridged, perfect for immersive listening.

A beautifully crafted edition for your shelf or your next insightful read, or the perfect gift for anyone who enjoys elegant, witty explorations of love and society.

About the Author

W. Somerset Maugham (1874–1965) was a British playwright, novelist, and short story writer, regarded as one of the greatest storytellers of his era. A master of lucid, witty prose and penetrating character studies, his works, including Of Human Bondage, The Moon and Sixpence, Cakes and Ale, and the short story collections The Trembling of a Leaf and Ashenden, have delighted readers for over a century. Though trained as a doctor, Maugham found his true calling in literature, drawing from his extensive travels and keen observations of society to create timeless tales of love, adventure, and the human condition.