Somerset Maugham Award

The Somerset Maugham Award is a British literary prize given each May by the Society of Authors. It is awarded to whom they judge to be the best writer or writers under the age of thirty-five of a book published in the past year. The prize was instituted in 1947 by William Somerset Maugham and thus bears his name: the award is to be spent on foreign travel. The total fund for each year is £12,000 .

Since 1964, multiple winners have usually been chosen in the same year. In 1975, the award was not given. The award has twice been won by the son of a previous winner: Kingsley Amis (winner in 1955) was the father of Martin Amis (1974), and Nigel Kneale (1950) the father of Matthew Kneale (1988).

Read more about Somerset Maugham Award:  Full List of Winners

Famous quotes containing the words somerset maugham, somerset, maugham and/or award:

    There is no explanation for evil. It must be looked upon as a necessary part of the order of the universe. To ignore it is childish, to bewail it senseless.
    —W. Somerset Maugham (1874–1965)

    I can imagine no more comfortable frame of mind for the conduct of life than a humorous resignation.
    —W. Somerset Maugham (1874–1966)

    Beauty is an ecstasy; it is as simple as hunger. There is really nothing to be said about it. It is like the perfume of a rose: you can smell it and that is all.
    —W. Somerset Maugham (1874–1965)

    The award of a pure gold medal for poetry would flatter the recipient unduly: no poem ever attains such carat purity.
    Robert Graves (1895–1985)