1915: Of Human Bondage to Victory

Chronology of World, British and American Literature.

W. Somerset Maugham. British. 1915. Novel. Of Human Bondage. Struggle for independence and intellectual development. Attempts to become an artist. Obsessive love affair. Then marries nice girl, settles down as a country doctor.

DH Lawrence. British. 1915. Novel. The Rainbow. Emotional lives and loves of three generations of a family of farmers and craftsmen.

Willa Cather. American. 1915. Novel. The Song of the Lark. Daughter of a Colorado clergyman eventually becomes a soprano at the Metropolitan in NYC.

Edgar Lee Masters. American. 1915. Poetry. Spoon River Anthology. Characters narrate their own biographies from the cemetery where they lie buried. Realistic. Cynical. Free verse. Contradict the pious epitaphs on gravestones.

John Buchan. Canadian. 1915. Suspense. The Thirty-Nine Steps. Uncovers spy ring and forestalls an invasion of Britain.

Joseph Conrad. British. 1915. Novel. Victory. Man has avoided all ties and commitments; self-exiled wanderer. Helps unhappy Lena. She tries to save him from ruthless men and dies. His victory is his recognition of love and purpose in life through Lena’s death.