Somerset maugham is not the first secret agent novel in english. Five short stories by somerset maugham, based upon his experiences in the secret service in ww1. Ashenden, by somerset maugham the presidential panel on nsa has brought renewed attention to the practice of spying. Somerset maughams semiautobiographical masterpiece of human bondage and loved its mix of grim reality, heartbreak and poignancy. William maugham biography facts, childhood, family life. Ashenden was one of the first realistic spy novels, taking a cynical view of espionage and its human consequences. Lady frederick, the explorer, a man of honor the trembling of a leaf on a chinese screen. He may shock you, even outrage you but he will always hold you spellbound with the sheer power of his stories. Founded on maughams own experiences in the british secret service during world war. When he died, the british empire was all but a memory. Fact starts a story at random, rambles on inconsequently and tails off, leaving loose ends, without a. Somerset maugham 1874 1965 was a british playwright, novelist and.
During wwi, a writer named ashenden, introduced only by his. Or the british agent 1927 is the first spy novel written by someone who actually worked for an intelligence agency. 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. Somerset maugham 18741965 was an english novelist and playwright. 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. William somerset maugham was an english playwright, novelist and short story writer. 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.
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, by somerset maugham, is a different matter, and one well worth exploring. Ashenden is a playwright who works for the british secret service as a spy in europe during wwi. Ashenden was written by somerset maugham and published in 1928. Books serve to show a man that those original thoughts of his arent very new after all. Why is maugham now hailed as a literary genius when so many critics once considered his novels too earthy, too sordid.
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. Buy ashenden, or, the british agent new ed by william somerset maugham isbn. 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. 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. 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, collection 31 volumes gripping tales from the master storyteller. It is partly based on the authors experience as a member of british intelligence in europe during the first world war. Inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, for harold kamp from w.
Discover book depositorys huge selection of w somerset maugham books online. An excellent copy in the dust jacket with faded spine panel, and a couple of shallow chips and nicks. 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. Maugham was famous as a dramatist before he was known for his novels and short stories.
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. Writer william somerset maugham was born in paris on january 25, 1874. See below our stock of william somerset maugham first editions, fine bindings, sets and other collectible material. William somerset maugham 1874 1965 was a british playwright, novelist and short story writer. 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. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. William somerset maugham 1874 1965 was born at the height of british imperial power. A story of the beautiful but lovestarve kitty fane who is forced to accompany her husband to the heart of a cholera epidemic. A prolific writer, maugham produced novels, short stories, plays, and an autobiographical novel, of human bondage. This classic collection of stories moves from england, france and spain to the silver sands of the south pacific. He was among the most popular writers of his era and reputedly the highestpaid author during the 1930s. Ashenden by somerset maugham abebooks passion for books.
Somerset maugham novel, originally published in 1908. Or the british agent is a 1927 collection of loosely linked stories by w. 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. In maughams lifetime, as his civilization slowly disappeared, people from all walks of life, the proud, the urbane, the crude, and the desperate, passed beneath the lens of his dispassionate scrutiny. Somerset maugham, in full william somerset maugham, born jan.
William somerset maugham was born to english parents robert ormond maugham and edith mary, on 25th january 1874, in the uk embassy in paris. Somerset maugham was a british playwright, novelist and short story writer. 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. In 1917, he took the first of many voyages to the paci. Maugham collects his series of stories about ashenden, the lessthanglamorous secret agent. Somerset maugham novels, short stories, plays and travel sketches is formatted for your ereader with a functional and detailed table of contents. He is widely considered to be one of the greatest english writers ever. It was loosely based on somerset maughams experiences as an mi6 agent during world war one. When war broke out in 1914, somerset maugham was dispatched by the british secret service to switzerland under the guise of completing a play. 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. Somerset maugham july 6, 1928, together with a letter from maugham regarding the opportunity to inscribe this copy. 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.
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