''Escape from the Shadows'' is the 1972 autobiography of British author Robin Maugham (1916–1981), later the 2nd Viscount Maugham. The title refers to three huge shadows over Maugham’s life: his famous father,

Frederic Maugham, 1st Viscount Maugham Frederic Herbert Maugham, 1st Viscount Maugham, (20 October 1866 – 23 March 1958) was a British barrister and judge who was Lord Chancellor from March 1938 until September 1939. Background and education Born in Paris, Maugham was the se ...

; his uncle, writer

W. Somerset Maugham William Somerset Maugham ( ; 25 January 1874 – 16 December 1965) was an English writer, known for his plays, novels and short stories. Born in Paris, where he spent his first ten years, Maugham was schooled in England and went to a German un ...

; and his homosexuality. ''Escape from the Shadows'' was published by

Hodder & Stoughton Hodder & Stoughton is a British publishing house, now an imprint of Hachette.H ...

. It was praised for its honesty, and depicts Maugham's struggles with alcohol and ill health, and sexual ambiguity. Maugham wrote a sequel autobiography, ''Search for Nirvana'', which was published by W. H. Allen & Co. in 1975.

References

{{reflist 1972 non-fiction books British autobiographies Hodder & Stoughton books