It is also the work of a writer who had the knack for creating a vivid character in few words, and then allowing that character to reveal his storyand usually more of himself than he would wishto the attentive reader. Caesars wife east of suez the explorer the hero the land of promise the land of the blessed virgin liza of lambeth the magician the making of a saint moon and sixpence of human bondage orientations plays. Multilingual, knowledgeable about many european countries and a celebrated writer, maugham had the perfect cover, and the assignment appealed to his love of romance, and of the ridiculous. This classic collection of stories moves from england, france and spain to the silver sands of the south pacific. Somerset maugham article pdf available in english literature in transition 18801920 571. His clarity of style, the perfection of his form, and the subtlety of his thought, thinly veiled by a worldly cynicism made him an international figure. Ashenden, by somerset maugham the presidential panel on nsa has brought renewed attention to the practice of spying. Ashenden by somerset maugham abebooks passion for books. Discover book depositorys huge selection of w somerset maugham books online. Somerset maugham william somerset maugham and other ebooks from all genres of literature, both fiction and nonfiction, historical documents and sheet music, all of which are available on a subscription basis. Somerset maugham, in full william somerset maugham, born jan. When he died, the british empire was all but a memory.
Maugham collects his series of stories about ashenden, the lessthanglamorous secret agent. Maugham was a great shortstory writer, but by now his stories have been collected and reassembled in so many different volumes that its very difficult to suggest a particular title. Ashenden was written by somerset maugham and published in 1928. Joseph conrads the secret agent 1907 may hold that honor. He was among the most popular writers of his era, and reputedly, the highest paid author during the 1930s. Buy ashenden, or, the british agent new ed by william somerset maugham isbn. Ashenden is a playwright who works for the british secret service as a spy in europe during wwi. Somerset maughams semiautobiographical masterpiece of human bondage and loved its mix of grim reality, heartbreak and poignancy. Somerset maugham novel, originally published in 1908. Books serve to show a man that those original thoughts of his arent very new after all. Crowley wrote a critique of this book under the pen name oliver haddo, where he accused maugham of plagiarism. Commercial success with high book sales, successful theatre productions and a string of film adaptations, backed by astute stock market investments, allowed maugham to live a very comfortable life.
All are beautifully written of course, though the final story, mr harringtons washing is particularly poignant. During wwi, a writer named ashenden, introduced only by his. Somerset maugham led many lives, including that of a doctor in londons slums, a successful playwright and novelist, an agent for british intelligence during world war i, and a world traveler. When war broke out in 1914, somerset maugham was dispatched by the british secret service to switzerland under the guise of completing a play. Why is maugham now hailed as a literary genius when so many critics once considered his novels too earthy, too sordid. See below our stock of william somerset maugham first editions, fine bindings, sets and other collectible material. Arthur conan doyles story, his last bow, 1917 which has holmes doing secret agent work and outwitting a german secret agent, also precedes maughams work, though doyles work is a short story. Writer william somerset maugham was born in paris on january 25, 1874.
He was among the most popular writers of his era and reputedly the highestpaid author during the 1930s. Somerset maugham is not the first secret agent novel in english. A prolific writer, maugham produced novels, short stories, plays, and an autobiographical novel, of human bondage. In 1917, he took the first of many voyages to the paci. Five short stories by somerset maugham, based upon his experiences in the secret service in ww1. Founded on maughams own experiences in the british secret service during world war. Lady frederick, the explorer, a man of honor the trembling of a leaf on a chinese screen. A story of the beautiful but lovestarve kitty fane who is forced to accompany her husband to the heart of a cholera epidemic. William somerset maugham was born to english parents robert ormond maugham and edith mary, on 25th january 1874, in the uk embassy in paris. Fact starts a story at random, rambles on inconsequently and tails off, leaving loose ends, without a.
Somerset maugham, william heinemann ltd, 1952, signed limited first edition first impression this is a varied and colourful collection of six essays to which maugham brings his inimitable mastery of the incisive character sketch to the gene of literary criticism. Although categorized as a novel, it is really a group of mostly unrelated short stories featuring ashenden, a writer recruited during world war i by a british intelligence officer known only as r. Or the british agent is a 1927 collection of loosely linked stories by w. It was loosely based on somerset maughams experiences as an mi6 agent during world war one. Ashenden was one of the first realistic spy novels, taking a cynical view of espionage and its human consequences. Ashenden, by somerset maugham, is a different matter, and one well worth exploring. Somerset maugham, or somerset maugham, as he is usually referred to, was perhaps the most respected english author of the 20th century to achieve a major presence in films. An excellent copy in the dust jacket with faded spine panel, and a couple of shallow chips and nicks. He is widely considered to be one of the greatest english writers ever. William maugham biography facts, childhood, family life.
Somerset maugham july 6, 1928, together with a letter from maugham regarding the opportunity to inscribe this copy. William somerset maugham 1874 1965 was born at the height of british imperial power. Somerset maugham 18741965 was an english novelist and playwright. William somerset maugham 1874 1965 was a british playwright, novelist and short story writer. Somerset maugham 1874 1965 was a british playwright, novelist and. Inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, for harold kamp from w. William somerset maugham was an english playwright, novelist and short story writer. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Somerset and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. In this tale, the magician oliver haddo, a caricature of aleister crowley, attempts to create life. Somerset maugham 25 january 1874 16 december 1965 william somerset maugham was born at the british embassy in paris, france, where his father was an english lawyer handling the legal affairs of the british embassy. Maugham was famous as a dramatist before he was known for his novels and short stories.
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