Books

London: William Heinemann Ltd, 1930. First Edition. Hardcover. Near fine/Near fine. This satire of London literary circles is widely considered a roman à clef with Maugham as Ashenden, Thomas Hardy as Driffield, and Hugh Walpole as Kear. In his introduction to the 1950 Modern Library edition of this novel, Maugham wrote, "I am willing enough to agree with common opinion that Of Human Bondage is my best work [...] But the book I like best is Cakes and Ale [...] because in its pages lives for me again the woman with the lovely smile who was the model for Rosie Driffield." Octavo: 270 p. Original blue cloth binding, with gilt and black stamping. Just the slightest hint of foxing; else near fine in a near fine dust jacket with some very mild toning along the spine.

Cakes and Ale is a satirical novel by W. Somerset Maugham, revolving around the lives, relationships, and social hypocrisies of the literary elite in England.