19 - Bishops Apron by W. Somerset Maugham

Dive into this riveting social satire that explores the ambitions of Theodore Spratte, a cleric who will go to any lengths to become a bishop. His journey includes embellishing his family history and meddling in his childrens love lives. Maugham paints a vivid picture of Spratte as more than just mediocre and pompous; hes also ambitious, hypocritical, and vain. This engaging novel, praised in 1906 for its blend of cynical gaiety and broad farcical comedy, continues to be a timeless representation of ambition and vanity. -- Lee Smalley