The Moon and Sixpence

*The Moon and Sixpence* is a novel by W. Somerset Maugham inspired by the life of painter Paul Gauguin. It explores the story of Charles Strickland, a man who abandons his secure middle-class life to pursue his intense desire to create art, regardless of societal expectations. The title reflects the balance between material comfort ("the sixpence") and artistic or personal fulfillment ("the moon"). The book examines themes of individual passion, the cost of following one’s true calling, and the tension between societal norms and personal aspirations.