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Portrait image of W. Somerset Maugham Photo: 1929 Bassano/Camera Press / TT

Sample of authors

Maugham, W. Somerset

William Somerset Maugham was a British author born in Paris. His father was a lawyer at the British Embassy there. When Maugham was eight years old, his mother died of tuberculosis, two years later his father died of cancer and the boy was sent to live with his uncle, the Vicar of Whitstable in Kent. Maugham suffered from a serious stammer, he was shy and avoided speaking in public; unlike his...

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Portrait of Catherine Aird Photo: Photo by Chris Capstick/REX (52818b) / TT

Sample of authors

Aird, Catherine

Catherine Aird is the pen name of the British crime writer Kinn Hamilton McIntosh. She was born in Huddersfield, Yorkshire, where she attended school, although she was absent for long periods due to a serious medical condition that affected her kidneys. Her father, a physician, made sure she was given the best medical care, and she later recovered. McIntosh was bed-ridden for much of her...

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