THE TREASURE and THE HOME, Two of Somerset Maugham's Beloved Short Stories

The Treasure
In "The Treasure," Maugham weaves a tale of ambition and greed cloaked in mystery, where a young couple becomes obsessed with uncovering a hidden fortune rumored to be within their crumbling mansion. But as they dig deeper, their quest reveals dark secrets, testing the limits of their desires and the integrity of their love. Will they unearth the riches they seek, or will the treasure cost them more than they can bear?

The Home
In "The Home," Maugham explores the price of belonging and the façade of family harmony. A successful man, having left his humble origins, returns to the oppressive comfort of his childhood home, only to discover the haunting grip of old grudges and the unspoken rules that once shaped him. As he confronts the past, he must decide: is the security of "home" worth the soul-crushing conformity it demands?