Search Results: ashenden by maugham

London: William Heinemann, 1928. First Edition. Hardcover. Fine-. Second Impression of this archetype of the espionage novel, a precursor to the works of Ian Fleming, Len Deighton, John le Carre, and Robert Ludlum. Publisher's dark blue linen-grain cloth, spine and front cover lettered in gilt. Without the scarce just jacket. Inscribed twice by Maughan: upside down on the rear end paper (presumably, his first attempt) and on the front end paper, "For Jack From WM." Very slight bubbling of cloth (as often), pages lightly toned, else about Fine. Haycraft-Queen Cornerstone. Stott A37a. Hubin (IV), p.198. Barzun & Taylor 2461. Pronzini & Muller, pp. 567-68 (a "nostalgic glimpse into an intrigue-filled world"). Originally published as short stories, then in this single volume in the guise of a novel, based on Maugham's espionage experiences in the Great War. Alfred Hitchcock adapted two of the stories for his film The Secret Agent. "What is new here is the flat dull tone that later writers so… Read More

HEINEMANN, 1928. Book. Good. Hardcover. Inscribed by Author(s). FIRST. A good minus first edition second printing with spine replaced. INSCRIBED BY MAUGHAM fine Facsimile dust jacket..

London: William Heinemann, 1928. Book. Fine. Hardcover. Signed by Author on laid in Sheet. 1st Edition. First Printing. A Queen's Quorum and Haycraft-Queen Cornerstone title. Book is as new. Signed by W. Somerset Maugham on a tipped in page "In recollection of a happy hour W.Somerset Maugham San Francisco 20 Jan 1939" Dustjacket has the correct 7/6 price on the spine. Dustjacket corners have small, almost invisible, expert repair. Overall, a beautiful copy, rare in this condition. Book is protected in a custom cut clear mylar cover. All books are carefully wrapped and shipped in a box..

London: Heinemann,, 1928. Scarce signed and in the jacket First edition, first impression, signed by the author on the front free endpaper. Maugham's masterpiece of spy fiction inspired Ian Fleming, John le Carré, and countless other espionage and thriller writers. A collection of interconnected short stories, Ashenden is based on the author's time working in the British Secret Intelligence Service. It follows the adventures of the eponymous character as he operates for the SIS during the First World War across Europe and Asia, under the cover of being an author. The book provided the source material for Alfred Hitchcock's 1936 film The Secret Agent. Provenance: from the collection of the Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts (1941-2021), with his posthumous bookplate. Octavo. Original blue cloth, spine and front cover lettered in gilt. With supplied dust jacket. Housed in a custom quarter blue morocco folding box by the Chelsea Bindery. Spine slightly cocked and faded, extremities lightly worn,… Read More