Ashenden, or, the british agent by william somerset maugham new. Like ian fleming, somerset maugham had himself been a secret agent. Ashenden, or, the british agent by william somerset maugham new edition 2000 on. Maugham conjures an atmosphere that, while not endearing you to any of the characters most of whom seem implausible comes over as genuine. Part of the franklin library of mystery masterpieces. 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.
Buy ashenden, or, the british agent new ed by william somerset maugham isbn. Ashenden kept his eyes open and he was not careless of the possibility that his antagonist might correct the inequalities of chance, but he saw nothing to suggest that everything was not above board. Or the british agent 1927 is the first spy novel written by someone who actually worked for an intelligence agency. Somerset maugham and explore their bibliography from s w. Ashenden had good enough cards, but the general seemed notwithstanding always to have better. He published seventyeight books including the undisputed classics of human bondage and the razors edge which sold over 40 million copies in his lifetime. Somerset maugham s real life experience working for the secret service in wwi, this is a collection of linked stories about his fictional alter ego ashenden. During world war i, maugham enlisted with an ambulance unit, but was soon shifted to the intelligence department. These are beautifully constructed stories, though perhaps maugham s ashenden s in the main rather chilly, mildly amused urbanity does tend to hold the reader also away from emotional engagement. Or the british agent 1927 is the first spy novel written.
Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. This site is like a library, use search box in the widget to get ebook that you want. Ashenden aka somerville is no action hero, his world is occasionally threatening but mostly dull, the stories are brief, tantalisingly incomplete and extremely light on plot. Ashenden vintage classics new ed edition, kindle edition. Designed to appeal to the booklover, the macmillan collectors library is a series of beautiful gift editions of much loved classic titles. An ex library book and may have standard library stamps andor stickers. Arthur conan doyles story, his last bow, 1917 which has holmes doing secret agent work and outwitting a german secret agent, also precedes maugham s work, though doyles work is a short story. Ashenden or the british agent classics to go and millions of other books are available for amazon kindle. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading ashenden or the british agent classics to go. It is partly based on the authors experience as a member of british intelligence in europe during the first world war. Having read it now, i can see its ideas, tropes, and styles revived in all of the key cold war spy novels ive read, including those by deighton and fleming. 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. Ashenden or the british agent classics to go kindle edition by maugham, somerset.
Somerset maugham ashenden or, the british agent franklin library 1st edition 1st printing hardcover franklin center, pennsylvania franklin library 1987 very good in full leather. Somerset maugham, 1941, doubleday, doran edition, in english ashenden, or. Somerset maugham s espionage tales rooted in his own experiences of the first world war. From one of the twentieth centurys most enduringly popular fiction writers. For updates and information on using the library remotely, click here. Ashenden or the british agent classics to go kindle. Project gutenberg offers 61942 free ebooks for kindle, ipad, nook, android, and iphone. 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. Joseph conrads the secret agent 1907 may hold that honor. Publication date 1928 topics allama collection digitallibraryindia. You have remained in right site to begin getting this info. Somerset maugham william somerset maugham, somerset maugham share this. It is partly based on the authors experience as a member of british intelligence in. The stories collected in ashenden are rooted in maugham s.
Somerset and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. When war broke out in 1914, somerset maugham was dispatched by the british secret service to switzerland under the guise. Ashenden was written by somerset maugham and published in 1928. Ashenden was one of the first realistic spy novels, taking a cynical view of espionage and its human consequences. Im surprised that it took me so long to find my way to ashenden or the british agent, w. It is your sole responsibility to make sure that material on this site belongs to the public domain in your country before readingusing them. Or the british agent is a 1928 collection of loosely linked stories by w. The stories collected in ashenden are rooted in maugham.
Five short stories by somerset maugham, based upon his experiences in the secret service in ww1. The stories collected in ashenden are rooted in maughams own experiences as an agent, reflecting the ruthlessness and brutality of espionage, its intrigue and. During wwi, a writer named ashenden, introduced only by his. Pages can include considerable notesin pen or highlighterbut the notes cannot obscure the text. He was among the most popular writers of his era and reputedly the highestpaid author during the 1930s. Somerset maughams best short stories features an afterword by writer and journalist ned halley. While some novelists believe this is a proper model for fiction, maugham believes that. Somerset maugham ebooks in pdf format from ebookslibrary. Somerset maugham is not the first secret agent novel in english. World war, 19141918, open library staff picks, fiction, world war, 19141918 in fiction. Ashenden or the british agent classics to go kindle edition by. An instinctive and magnificent storyteller, somerset maugham was one of the most popular and successful writers of his time. Ashenden or the british agent classics to go ebook.
A set of short stories, connected in theme, featuring ashenden, a writer by profession. For a period of time after it was first published, the book became official required reading for persons entering the british secret service. Ashenden w somerset maugham ashenden w somerset maugham recognizing the habit ways to get this book ashenden w somerset maugham is additionally useful. Free ebook short stories elibrary though this blog is about collecting maugham s books as physical objects, i also like to have the digitized version for my ereader, because then i can carry them around and take advantage of technology, not like maugham who had to suffer the problem of travelling with his enormous bookbag. This fascinating book contains probably the most expert stories of espionage ever written. Somerset maugham brooklyn public library overdrive. Or the british agent is a 1927 collection of loosely linked stories by w. Ashenden book washington county cooperative library. The british agent is founded on maugham s experiences in the english intelligence department during world war i, but rearranged for the purposes of fiction.
Click download or read online button to get somerset maugham book now. W somerset maugham a celebrated writer by the time the war broke out in 1914, somerset maugham was dispatched by the secret service to lucerne under the guise of completing a play. It was loosely based on somerset maugham s experiences as an mi6 agent during world war one. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. It was not till the beginning of september that ashenden, a writer by profession, who had been abroad at the outbreak of the war, managed to get. Search for library items search for lists search for contacts search for a library. Read ashenden by w somerset maugham available from rakuten kobo. When war broke out in 1914, somerset maugham was dispatched by the british secret service to switzerland under the guise of completing a play. This fascinating book contains the most expert stories of espionage ever written. Somerset maugham, 9780099289708, download free ebooks, download free pdf epub ebook. Open library is an open, editable library catalog, building towards a web page for every book ever published. Somerset maugham was also famous for his novels and plays, it has been argued that in the short story he reached the pinnacle of his art.
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