The Making of a Saint

THE MAKING OF A SAINT, published in 1898, was W. Somerset Maugham's second novel. He always regarded it as his black sheep, even tried to suppress its republication.

His disaffection is not easy to understand. The book enjoyed a good reception and continues to be well reviewed. It remains today, as it was on publication, an intense and highly colored novel of plot and counterplot, passion and intrigue.

"A fine story of 15th century Italy. Intrigue and assassination were standard issue and tar...