Beverly Nichols. A Case of Human Bondage (1966)

     Beverly Nichols. A Case of Human Bondage (1966) A spiteful narrative of Somerset Maugham’s marriage, ostensibly written to defend Vivienne against the attacks in Maugham’s autobiography. Nichols never names homosexuality, but it’s implied everywhere, and there’s no doubt that Maugham’s bisexuality was the root cause of the horror that was his marriage. There’s also no doubt that Maugham was a monster, but the people around him supported his egomania and cruelty, and Nichols’ protestations of sympathy for Vivienne Maugham ring more than a bit hollow. I didn’t finish this book, got about 3/4 through it, and had had enough even before then. (2004)