Books

First edition. Original blue cloth with gilt titles to the spine and upper cover in striking pictorial dustwrapper printed in black, red, blue and grey. A fine copy in a very good dustwrapper indeed, which is bright, but just shows a little wear to the spine ends. Maugham's famous collection of spy stories, based partly on his experiences in British Intelligence in the First World War, which influenced a whole generation of writers, including Eric Ambler, John Le Carre and Ian Fleming. "the modern spy story began with Somerset Maugham's 'Ashenden'." (Julian Symonds).

A collection of interconnected stories based on Maugham's experiences as a British spy during World War I. The stories delve into the subtleties and complexities of espionage and are considered some of the earliest works of fiction in the spy genre.