Colonial Issues in W.S. Maugham's Short Stories

Abstract

This work focuses on the reflection in British literature of issues related to the era of European colonialism during the second half of the 19th century. The main part of the text provides a detailed critical analysis of selected short stories by William Somerset Maugham. Special emphasis is placed on the author´s depiction of the colonial background and certain related specific issues - for example on the issue of assimilation within the different socio-cultural environment, on complicated relationships with the native population or on the depiction of racial issues in relation to author´s cynical attitudes towards human nature.