Ashenden, Or: The British AgentAshenden: The British Agent is founded on Maugham's experiences in the English Intelligence Department during World War I, but rearranged for the purposes of fiction. This fascinating book contains the most expert stories of espionage ever written. For a period of time after it was first published the book became official required reading for persons entering the secret service. The plot follows the imaginary John Ashenden who during World War I is a spy for British Intelligence. He is sent first to Geneva and later to Russia. Instead of one story from start to finish, the chapters contain individual stories involving many different characters. All of the people whom Ashenden meets during his travels have their own reason for being involved in the spy game, and each are more complex than they first look. |
From inside the book
Results 1-3 of 55
Page 89
... Ashenden felt a sensation of sickness in the pit of his stomach . He hesitated . The Mexican smiled not unkindly . " There's no risk , amigo , " he said , as though he were reassuring a small boy , " but if you don't feel happy , I'll ...
... Ashenden felt a sensation of sickness in the pit of his stomach . He hesitated . The Mexican smiled not unkindly . " There's no risk , amigo , " he said , as though he were reassuring a small boy , " but if you don't feel happy , I'll ...
Page 91
... Ashenden felt that nothing escaped him . " Perhaps he left them in charge of the clerk down- stairs ? " " I should have known it . And he wouldn't dare . They're not here . I can't understand it . " He looked about the room irresolutely ...
... Ashenden felt that nothing escaped him . " Perhaps he left them in charge of the clerk down- stairs ? " " I should have known it . And he wouldn't dare . They're not here . I can't understand it . " He looked about the room irresolutely ...
Page 162
William Somerset Maugham. in an undertone . Caypor stopped and Ashenden felt that his eyes were turned in his direction . Mrs. Caypor had noticed the arrival of a stranger and had drawn . her husband's attention to it . Ashenden turned ...
William Somerset Maugham. in an undertone . Caypor stopped and Ashenden felt that his eyes were turned in his direction . Mrs. Caypor had noticed the arrival of a stranger and had drawn . her husband's attention to it . Ashenden turned ...
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
agent Alix ambassador Anastasia Alexandrovna answer Ashen Ashenden felt Ashenden knew Ashenden looked Ashenden saw Ashenden thought asked Ashenden baroness bassador Bolsheviks Brindisi Byring Caypor chance Chandra Colonel course cried Delilah detective dine dinner door enden English everything eyes face Fafner feeling fellow fool France Fritzi gave Geneva German Giulia give glance Gustav Hairless Mexican hand Harrington head heart Herbert Witherspoon Holzminden hour humour lake laughed Lausanne Lazzari letter Lucerne married Mexican opened mind Miss King Monsieur morning neutral country never night notion O'Malley once opened Paris passport Petrograd play round Russian scrambled eggs seemed shoulders shrugged Sir Herbert sitting smile Somerville stood story Swiss Switzerland talk tell there's thing Thonon tion told took train turned Vladimir wait walked watched wife woman wondered word write