As neither one thing nor the other, literature or memoire, the total leaves one a little dissatisfied but the parts make up for the whole. In the tale told by an ambassador, in a literary sleight of hand, a man speaks of another where Maugham is clearly speaking of himself in the voice of the first. As might be expected, Maugham perfectly expresses the reserved and understated dialogue of upper-class Brits of this period. In the extract below, Ashenden is awaiting instructions from “R”.

W. Somerset Maugham’s Ashenden, or the British Agent is an example of one of my favourite genres, the early 20th century espionage tale. While spy stories set during World War 2 and during the Cold War have their charms I find the earlier tales set during the First Word War or in the years leading up to that war much more appealing. During World War One, Germany attempted to support Indian nationalists, hoping to distract Britain and preventing Indian troops fighting in Europe. The Indian nationalists in Germany were known as the Berlin Committee. Review of the Arni Books Kindle eBook edition (April 6, 2023) of the original Heinemann hardcover (1927)

Lo stesso anno il maestro inglese realizzò un altro film, intitolato Sabotage, questo tratto da un romanzo di Conrad intitolato The Secret Agent. I should say in fairness that I do really like a couple of the stories, 'Behind the Scenes', which paints a vivid picture of sexual obsession, and and the poignant last tale in the collection, 'Mr Harrington's Washing'. There are also memorable sections in some of the others, particularly when Maugham gets on to the theme of doomed passion, which he has a powerful way of describing. Maugham wrote at a time when experimental modernist literature such as that of William Faulkner, Thomas Mann, James Joyce and Virginia Woolf was gaining increasing popularity and winning critical acclaim. In this context, his plain prose style was criticized as 'such a tissue of clichés' that one's wonder is finally aroused at the writer's ability to assemble so many and at his unfailing inability to put anything in an individual way. Ashenden– Secret Agent 1914-1918: The Hairless Mexican in five episodes, adapted by Howard Agg, produced by George Angell and read by Leo Genn. [23] I hope you haven’t been bored all alone with my husband. What have you been talking about? Art and Literature?’

Maugham was the real deal. This book (or rather, a collection of short stories) is based on Maugham's own experiences after being recruited as a spy during World War One. The best of them were dry and amusing but other than the final story I was never totally engaged. Normally with short stories, it is best for me to read one or two at time, but some of the stories were interlinked, so I don't think my memory would cope with that. Tratto caratteristico del Maugham che conosco è l’ambientazione spesso esotica. Qui, come si addice alla spy story per antonomasia, si gira il mondo, sia geograficamente che negli incontri umani: Svizzera, messicani, italiani, Orient Express, americani, Rivoluzione russa. the work of an agent in the Intelligence Department is on the whole extremely monotonous. A lot of it is uncommonly useless. The material it offers for stories is scrappy and pointless; the author has himself to make it coherent, dramatic and probable," This 1928 novel stands out for some good reasons. Most of all, it preceded the work of other master spy fiction writers who didn't make their spies out to be James Bond types (Conrad did that much earlier, though). The world of espionage here is full of drudgery, and of characters who are not morally squeaky clean. Other British writers would take the theme of calculating bosses who let others do the dirty work to further national interest... and let some innocents get collaterally damaged. Of course, the bosses could often be wrong.In contrast, Maugham’s portrayal of the ‘villains’ is humane and sympathetic. For example, in The Traitor, the description of the German spy learning that the British have executed her husband leaves the reader sympathising with her, not with Ashenden. I don't know that I'd go quite so far as that. He hasn't had the value of a public-school education. His ideas of playing the game aren't quite the same as yours and mine. I don't know that I would leave a gold cigarette-case about when he was in the neighbourhood, but if he had lost money to you at poker and he had pinched your cigarette-case, he would immediately pawn it to pay you." That said, the stories were interesting and takes our author-turned-spy, Ashenden across Europe amid World War I. Maugham gives his “proxy” Ashenden, a dry-wit humour. He is an astute observer of people, who are as Ashenden says, “his raw material”. Which I do agree, is true for Maugham and is what indeed makes him a wonderful writer. The stories were very witty and humorous at places. The last one though, was a bit sad. There is a particular scene where a diplomat is telling Ashenden a story of his life, and the following dialogue takes place.

Some might argue that this is more a collection of stories than a novel, but I think the stories are linked enough for the book to count as the latter. At the outset Ashenden is in a hotel in Geneva, and the business of espionage still has elements of the 19th century about it. In the same hotel there is a German agent, an aristocrat whom Ashenden knew well before the war. Ashenden, Gentleman Spy in five episodes, abridged by Neville Teller, produced by Eoin O'Callaghan and read by Alex Jennings. Part of the Book at Bedtime series. [28] Ashenden– Secret Agent 1914-1918: Giulia Lazzari in five episodes, adapted by Marjorie Bilbow, produced byGeorge Angell and read by Roger Delgado. Part of the Book at Bedtime series. [26] The British government asked Somerset Maugham not to include several other stories in the novel, as they revealed too much about the methods and activities of Britain’s spies. This might explain why some of the less dramatic incidents, such as Miss King’s stroke and the Ambassador’s love affair (which, in fairness, is beautifully written), are included. It may also explain why the book is disjointed. There are hints and references in the novel to other events and people, presumably ones who appeared in the censored stories. The remaining stories feel like glimpses at the remains of a longer novel. The final Russian section in particular feels like it is building up to a climax, but then just cuts out as the revolution starts. The truth behind some of the storiesAshenden has an important place in modern Mythology. This book, along with the Gadfly, are the two biggest influences on Fleming’s James Bond. Here we have the sophisticated multi-lingual Englishman of good breeding fighting those Axis spies during the First World War. He knows how to play bridge, to mix in excellent society and to hold his own. Out of the social scene he uses his cover as a playwright to interact with his street runners – the poor and down at heel.

The title uses a classic title archetype, the Protagonist, Ashenden being the name the narrator refers to himself as. Fascinating. As the prototype of the ‘cynical’ spy novel, it was ahead of its time. Read it and discover where John le Carré got his ideas from. Ashenden: The MovieThere is no room for love. Maugham notes that artists do not make good lovers, They love themselves above all. But Ashenden has one love interest: the married woman, Anastasia Alexandrovna Semenovitch alias Delilah. He had planned on marrying her once, but after a week spent in Paris with her, after eating only scrambled eggs every morning, her favourite, Ashenden fled to America. This fascinating, and delightful, book is often regarded as the first spy story and a precursor to Smiley and James Bond. Based on W. Somerset Maugham’s real life experience working for the Secret Service in WWI, this is a collection of linked stories about his fictional alter ego Ashenden. Like Maugham, Ashenden is an author; approached by a middle-aged Colonel (later known as ‘R’) at a party in London, shortly after the outbreak of the first world war. He suggests that, as Ashenden speaks several European languages and his profession is a perfect cover, he joins the intelligence agency. Despite the comment that, “if you do well you’ll get no thanks and if you get into trouble you’ll get no help,” Ashenden seems happy enough to oblige. Kathleen Kuiper, Cakes and Ale (novel by Maugham). Britannica.com, 2011. Accessed 23 November 2013. I am Indian, and it's good to get this out of the way: at one point, the Ashenden's spymaster, "R", calls an Indian rebel leader a nigger. On the other hand, Ashenden himself is quite sympathetic to the leader when "R" talks about him for the first time. William Somerset Maugham, famous as novelist, playwright and short-story writer, was born in 1874, and lived in Paris until he was ten. He was educated at King's School, Canterbury, and at Heidelberg University. He spent some time at St. Thomas' Hospital with a view to practising medicine, but the success of his first novel, Liza of Lambeth, published in 1897, won him over to letters. Of Human Bondage, the first of his masterpieces, came out in 1915, and with the publication in 1919 of The Moon and Sixpence his reputation as a novelist was established. His position as a successful playwright was being consolidated at the same time. His first play, A Man of Honour, was followed by a series of successes just before and after World War I, and his career in the theatre did not end until 1933 with Sheppey.