The following book is a collection of short stories by W. Somerset Maugham, an English writer who was among the most popular writers of his era, and reputedly the highest-paid author during the 1930s. Many of his stories have been adapted into movies in the 21st century, such as The Painted Veil and Bring Julia. For this work, six titles are included, from stories of revenge (The Punctiliousness of Don Sebastian) to fairytale-inspired ones (The Choice of Amyntas).