The Land of Promise: A Comedy in Four Acts

"The Land of Promise: A Comedy in Four Acts" by W. Somerset Maugham is a play written in the early 20th century. The story revolves around the character Norah Marsh, who has just left a difficult position as a companion to an elderly woman and is navigating her newfound independence and the challenges that come with it. The play appears to explore themes of social class, gender roles, and the search for happiness and fulfillment in life. The opening of the play introduces Norah at the house of her former employer, Miss Wickham, who has recently passed away. As Norah meets her old acquaintance Miss Pringle, they discuss the deeply fraught relationship Norah had with Miss Wickham, highlighting Norah’s struggles and emotional turmoil. Following the funeral, the focus shifts to the reading of Miss Wickham's will, leading to revelations that amplify Norah's sense of disappointment and betrayal. The act delves into the complexities of human emotions and relationships, presenting a rich tapestry of characters who reflect varying responses to grief, responsibility, and ambition. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

William Somerset Maugham was an English writer, known for his plays, novels and short stories. Born in Paris, where he spent his first ten years, Maugham was schooled in England and went to a German university. He became a medical student in London and qualified as a physician in 1897. He never practised medicine, and became a full-time writer. His first novel, Liza of Lambeth (1897), a study of life in the slums, attracted attention, but it was as a playwright that he first achieved national celebrity. By 1908 he had four plays running at once in the West End of London. He wrote his 32nd and last play in 1933, after which he abandoned the theatre and concentrated on novels and short stories.