U starom zamku

The novel is inspired by the life of the painter Paul Gauguin. It follows Charles Strickland, a London stockbroker who, in middle age, abandons his wife and children to pursue his passion for painting. Moving to Paris and later to Tahiti, Strickland lives a bohemian life, often in poverty, rejecting social norms and relationships for the sake of art. The story is narrated by a young writer who observes Strickland's obsession and relentless devotion, which leads to conflicts with those around him, including friends and lovers. The novel explores the tension between artistic genius and moral compromise, culminating in Strickland's tragic but artistically fulfilling end in Tahiti, where he creates his greatest works. Maugham's ironic style emphasizes the conflict between social expectations and individual freedom.