Of Human Bondage: Free Audiobook and Listening Guide

Of Human Bondage, credited to Somerset Maugham, is available as a LibriVox volunteer audiobook. This guide identifies the recording, its source summary and its audio tracks.

About the work

The LibriVox catalogue summary, preserved with the recording, reads:

LibriVox recording of Of Human Bondage, by Somerset Maugham. Read by Tom Weiss. Of Human Bondage, published in 1915, is considered to be W. Somerset Maugham’s best work. Many believe the novel to be one of the world’s literary masterpieces. The story follows Phillip Carey from early childhood through his 30’s. Orphaned at 9, Phillip spends his early years raised by his childless aunt and uncle. His aunt tries to be a mother to Philip, but she is unsure how to behave whereas his uncle, a vicar, takes a cold disposition towards him. Philip is sent to a boarding school but his shyness and his club foot make it difficult for him to fit in. The novel follows this theme throughout as Phillip travels to Germany, France, and England, makes new acquaintances, searches for his life’s calling, and experiences romantic episodes. Mildred in particular, will leave you wondering about Phillip's obsession and passion for such a woman. More than a few of us have had “our Mildred”. The characters in Of Human Bondage are real-life with faults, qualities, and feelings that Maugham describes so vividly. It would not be unusual that we have encountered individuals with traits similar to the characters in this book. At times the emotions in this novel, so simply but purely written, will leave you either sad or happy and even perhaps, teary-eyed as the enthusiasm of youth is met with reality as Phillip tries to discover the meaning of HIS life through the dreams of others. (Summary by the Tom Weiss)

Recording facts

• Recording title: Of Human Bondage
• Author credits: Somerset Maugham
• Language: English
• Original MP3 tracks: 33
• Listed recording duration: 25:45:33

Catalogue topics

• fiction

Opening tracks: first 24 of 33

1. 01 - Chapters 1 through 6 — 48:02
2. 02 - Chapters 7 through 12 — 53:46
3. 03 - Chapters 13 through 16 — 47:39
4. 04 - Chapters 17 through 20 — 41:28
5. 05 - Chapters 21 through 23 — 42:05
6. 06 - Chapters 24 through 28 — 50:56
7. 07 - Chapters 29 through 32 — 44:08
8. 08 - Chapters 33 through 35 — 50:38
9. 09 - Chapters 36 through 39 — 47:55
10. 10 - Chapters 40 through 42 — 45:54
11. 11 - Chapters 43 through 45 — 52:05
12. 12 - Chapters 46 through 48 — 51:19
13. 13 - Chapters 49 through 52 — 59:14
14. 14 - Chapters 53 through 56 — 46:17
15. 15 - Chapters 57 through 60 — 47:56
16. 16 - Chapters 61 through 65 — 52:01
17. 17 - Chapters 66 through 69 — 55:14
18. 18 - Chapters 70 through 73 — 56:35
19. 19 - Chapters 74 through 77 — 50:44
20. 20 - Chapters 78 through 80 — 42:00
21. 21 - Chapters 81 through 84 — 52:57
22. 22 - Chapters 85 through 87 — 41:34
23. 23 - Chapters 88 through 91 — 49:51
24. 24 - Chapters 92 through 94 — 45:09

Listen to this recording

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Source and rights

This is a record from LibriVox's official Internet Archive collection, with a public-domain licence recorded in its metadata. LibriVox's policy includes its catalogue summaries as well as its recordings. Its public-domain assessment follows United States law; copyright status can differ elsewhere. The summary and track facts are reproduced and reformatted from that record. Dates attached to the archive upload are not treated as original book publication dates.