The novel “Of Human Bondage” is one of W. Somerset Maugham’s most autobiographical works. It is the story of the coming-of-age and self-discovery of young Philip Carey, an orphan with a physical disability (clubfoot), who endures many life trials—including unrequited love, poverty, and the search for his vocation. The novel explores themes of freedom, self-determination, and the meaning of life, set against the backdrop of England in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.