"The Merry-go-round" by W. Somerset Maugham is a novel that examines the personal struggles and emotional entanglements of a group of Londoners. Set in Edwardian society, the story intertwines the lives of characters from various social classes as they face issues of love, duty, and morality. Maugham’s sharp observation of human nature and social dynamics gives the novel depth, capturing the cyclical nature of life and relationships.