Ashenden, Or: The British AgentThis fascinating book contains probably 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 British Secret Service. During World War I, Maugham enlisted with an ambulance unit, but was soon shifted to the Intelligence Department. Although these stories were based on the author's own experiences as a British agent during the war, he emphasized that they were written purely as entertainment, at which, indeed, Ashenden succeeds. Maugham's clarity of style, the perfection of his form, the subtlety of his thought, veiled thinly behind a worldly cynicism, has made him an international figure. |
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... to me I go all to pieces.” “I hope we shall have a pleasant journey,” said
Ashenden. “When does our friend arrive at Brindisi P” asked the Mexican, turning
to R. “He sails from the Piraeus in the Ithaca on the 57 THE HAIRLESS MEXICAN
.
Ashenden had more than one reason to change the conversation. They were
parting at Rome and he thought it necessary to come to an understanding with
his companion about their respective movements. The Mexican was going to
Brindisi ...
We had to spend the day in Brindisi and he cannot speak Italian. He was glad to
have me help him and we travelled up together. I have brought him to this hotel.
He says he is going to Rome to-morrow, but I shall not let him out of my sight; I do
...
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LibraryThing Review
User Review - lamour - LibraryThingThis is volume three of Maugham's collected short stories. In this volume he has put his stories that have the same protagonist, Ashendan who is recruited to move to Switzerland where he will be a ... Read full review
LibraryThing Review
User Review - jimgysin - LibraryThingIt's easy to see why this one is considered an archetype of espionage fiction. The fact that the book was first published back in the late 1920s means that some of the dialogue and narrative will ... Read full review
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Bibliographic information
| Title | Ashenden, Or: The British Agent Volume 5 of Collected edition of the works of W. Somerset Maugham Short story index reprint series |
| Author | William Somerset Maugham |
| Edition | reprint |
| Publisher | Doubleday, Doran, 1941 |
| Original from | the University of California |
| Digitized | 23 May 2009 |
| ISBN | 0836940520, 9780836940527 |
| Length | 304 pages |
| Subjects | › Fiction / General |
| Export Citation | BiBTeX EndNote RefMan |