Books

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, occasional faint mark to contents; jacket spine creased, extremities worn with some loss to rear panel, split to front flap fold discreetly stabilized, a few spots to flaps, else bright and unclipped: a very good copy in very good jacket. Stott A37a.

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.