Of Human Bondage vs The Black Robe: Which Should You Read?

Both live on shelves: British and irish fiction, England, English literature, Classic Literature, Fiction

Of Human Bondage William Somerset Maugham · 1915 ★★★★☆ 4.2 688 pages · ≈ 12 h 44 m · Challenging

Of Human Bondage is a moving exploration of loneliness, obsessive love, and a young man's search for meaning and direction in life. Written in the third person, it tells the story of Philip Carey, a self-conscious…

1 film adaptation

Physically handicapped Medical fiction People with disabilities Artists

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The Black Robe Wilkie Collins · 1881 ★★★★☆ 3.7 318 pages · ≈ 5 h 53 m · Demanding

“THE doctors could do no more for the Dowager Lady Berrick.”

The Black Robe is an 1881 partially-epistolary novel by famed English writer, Wilkie Collins. The book, which relates the misadventures of one "Lewis Romayne", is noted for its anti-Catholic lens.

Romance & Relationships Mystery

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Side by side

The verdict

Readers rate Of Human Bondage highest: Of Human Bondage 4.2 · The Black Robe 3.7.
The Black Robe is the quickest read — about 5 hours vs 12 for Of Human Bondage.
Of Human Bondage has the widest readership — 4828 ratings behind its score.

How to choose

Want a one-evening read? The Black Robe ≈ 5h vs 12h for Of Human Bondage Just want the better-reviewed one? Of Human Bondage 4.2 vs 3.7 from readers New to the genre? Of Human Bondage Challenging vs Demanding for The Black Robe

Scores by source

	Of Human Bondage	The Black Robe
Goodreads	4.2 (4828)	3.7 (812)
Hardcover	4.1 (64)	2.0 (2)
Apple Books	4.5 (361)	4.0 (28)

Reception

	Of Human Bondage	The Black Robe
Ratings	4828	812
Editions	407	303
Citations	—	9
Film adaptations	1	1
Want to read	102865	851
Reading it now	12	—
Written reviews	4828	97
Wikipedia attention	10929	214
Pages	688	318

Questions readers ask

Which is rated higher: Of Human Bondage or The Black Robe?

Of Human Bondage has the higher combined reader rating across sources (Of Human Bondage 4.2/5, The Black Robe 3.7/5).

Which is shorter to read: Of Human Bondage or The Black Robe?

The Black Robe is the quickest read. Estimated at 225 words per minute: The Black Robe (318 pages, ≈ 5 h 53 m); Of Human Bondage (688 pages, ≈ 12 h 44 m).

Which is harder to read: Of Human Bondage or The Black Robe?

Estimated difficulty, based on era, reader shelves and length — Of Human Bondage: Challenging; The Black Robe: Demanding.

Have both books been made into films?

Of Human Bondage: 2 film adaptations; The Black Robe: no film adaptation on record.