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. |
From inside the book
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“Don't fall in love with her,” smiled Ashenden. This, however, was not a matter on
which Mr. Harrington was prepared to jest. “I have never looked at a woman
since I married Mrs. Harrington,” he said. “That husband of hers must be a bad
man.
“What's the matter now?” “You see, we had nothing to bind her up with. Mr.
Harrington's handkerchief was soaked. There was only one thing about me that I
could get off quickly and so I took off my . . .” But before she could finish Mr.
Harrington ...
“Why, Delilah, what is the matter?” he said. Anastasia laughed till the tears ran
from her eyes and then began to sob in earnest. Ashenden explained. “The
Bolsheviks have overthrown the Government. Kerensky's ministers are in prison.
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LibraryThing Review
User Review - kristykay22 - LibraryThingThis is a compelling, although rather chilly, collection of loosely connected short stories following the intelligence work of Ashenden, a writer turned spy for the British government during World War ... Read full review
LibraryThing Review
User Review - lamour - LibraryThingThis is volume three of Maugham's collected short stories. In this volume he has placed his stories that have the same protagonist, Ashendan, who is recruited to move to Switzerland where he will be a ... 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 |