Books

First Edition. "First Published 1944" on verso of title page, no other printings indicated. Dropped "a" on page 126 indicating also the first state. Clean tight and unmarked with light overall handling wear, surprisingly nice condition for this inexpensive wartime manufacture. The plastic-protected dust jacket is also Near Fine with only light edge rubbing, see photos. This is not the usual first printing dust jacket pictured in other listings, but a much less common version apparently printed on a leftover dust jacket from Maugham's "Ashenden". I gather this was sometimes done when the first run of the original jackets was exhausted; the back panel is also noticeably different than the first printing.

'The Razor's Edge' follows the story of a war veteran Larry Darrell and his quest for spiritual enlightenment in the chaos of post-WWI society. Maugham's novel explores themes of existential crisis, the search for meaning, and the complexities of human relationships.