Inspired by Maughams's own experiences as a British secret agent in World War I, this series of stories features a fictional spy, John Ashenden, whose dangerous assignments entangle him with traitors, assassins and beautiful but treacherous women.
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Ashenden (Vintage Classics)
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The most persuasive espionage fiction (New York Times )
The first spy story written by someone who had been there and done that. A humane and compassionate antidote to two-fisted, square-jawed heroes battling dastardly foreigners. The head of British Intelligence is known only as "R", anticipating James Bond's "M" by a quarter of a century (The Times )
Thoughtful spy novels began with Somerset Maugham's Ashenden, featuring a detached hero on a journey to disillusion, a process brought to its apotheosis by le Carre via Greene (Daily Telegraph )
A collection of stories so accurate that Churchill ordered the destruction of 14 of them, while Russian intelligence immediately set up a special unit to read British spy novels for clues (New Statesman ) --This text refers to the Paperback edition.
The first spy story written by someone who had been there and done that. A humane and compassionate antidote to two-fisted, square-jawed heroes battling dastardly foreigners. The head of British Intelligence is known only as "R", anticipating James Bond's "M" by a quarter of a century (The Times )
Thoughtful spy novels began with Somerset Maugham's Ashenden, featuring a detached hero on a journey to disillusion, a process brought to its apotheosis by le Carre via Greene (Daily Telegraph )
A collection of stories so accurate that Churchill ordered the destruction of 14 of them, while Russian intelligence immediately set up a special unit to read British spy novels for clues (New Statesman ) --This text refers to the Paperback edition.
Book Description
Maugham's set of stories about his wartime spy John Ashenden, who prefigured James Bond with his exploits with exotic enemies and exotic women
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Ashenden was particularly admired by Raymond Chandler, and that is what first interested me in it. It is the story, based on Maugham's own experience, of a British spy in the first world war. The 'story' is more a series of separate episodes, and I can easily imagine why it appealed to Chandler -- as well as the laconic detachment of the writing, there is almost a feel of Hammett here and there, notably the episode of the Hairless Mexican. Much of the action centres round Geneva, a city I personally like, and there is a peculiar fascination in the voyage of the lake-steamer going in and out of the war-zone as it alternates between Switzerland and France. This kind of spy did not have much in common with the heroes of Len Deighton or John Le Carre -- the job reminds me more of how J K Galbraith described the life of an ambassador, ninety percent boredom and ten percent panic, like being an airline pilot. It has its grim side too as you would expect. One of the most memorable pieces is the story of the traitor Grantley Caypor. Some years ago Ashenden was serialised on television, with Caypor superbly played by Alan Bennett. What that production did not even try to reproduce was what happened at the moment of Caypor's execution, unforgettable in Maugham's cold prose.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
Ashenden is a minor masterpiece, and I recommend it unreservedly. But I was very disappointed with Vintage's e-edition. It's absolutely riddled with mistakes, most of them, I suspect, arising from OCR scans which haven't been edited. I can put up with this sort of thing in free titles that have been converted by amateurs, but when you're paying a Random House imprint several quid for a title, you have the right to expect high editorial standards. I'd definitely think twice before buying any other Vintage titles - which is a shame because their list is amazing, and the print editions are beautifully done.
10 of 11 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Hardcover
A very droll account of the life of Ashenden, a bridge- and bath-loving British spy in the First World War, full of sarcastic wit. The book opens oddly with an essay in which the author appears to be criticising slice-of-life novels which have no real coherent plot running through them, then goes on to write just such a book! The book is a series of rather disjointed episodes in Ashenden's career, some tragic and some very funny. It is imbued throughout with a very, very dark and sarcastic sense of humour which reminded me of Saki. Ashenden's superior, Colonel R., is particularly cynical. The highlight of the book for me was Ashenden's love affair with a Russian intellectual, which is hilarious. Worth a read in my opinion, but not for the squeamish or easily-offended, or those who don't understand British humour.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Quite extraordinary
Maugham was already an experienced writer when he was asked to a bit of spying for the British Secret Service. This book is a collection of stories about his experiences. Read more
Published 11 days ago by S.M. Johnson
4.0 out of 5 stars
Mautham's thriller
Ashenden is the closest Maugham gets to having written a thriller. An espionage story, it is set during WWI and involves the expected murder, betrayal, and intrigue. Read more
Published 2 months ago by reader 451
4.0 out of 5 stars
Sparse but evocative prose
Whether describing the tradecraft of spying, the mad infatuation of a Victorian diplomat or the dread of a future filled with scrambled eggs for breakfast every day, Maugham's... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Graham R. Hill
4.0 out of 5 stars
Classical Maugham characters though not his best work
Maughan was a keen observer of human beings and their foibles. His skills are on display in this novel based on his experiences as a British secret agent in WW1. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Houston Andrew
4.0 out of 5 stars
Intriguing...
A well written (if sometimes, to me, slightly boring) book with an outline of the War that seemed overall intriguing - and was to me very readable. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Mr. N. B. Hodson
5.0 out of 5 stars
A minor masterpiece
I was very impressed by this book. The first book I have read by W. Somerset Maugham. Maugham's beautiful writing evokes the life of a spy and is based on his own spying... Read more
Published 6 months ago by nigeyb
5.0 out of 5 stars
Ashenden
I heard a program on Radio 4 extra about Somerset Maugham, and was interested in his writing
The book was very good - mirrored Maugham's career as a spy in what was really a... Read more
The book was very good - mirrored Maugham's career as a spy in what was really a... Read more
Published 11 months ago by roger
5.0 out of 5 stars
ashenden
In November 2010 I have started reading Vintage Maugham.
Started with Painted Veil; Loved It.
Ashenden is a true delight.
12. His Excellency; my favourite part. Read more
Started with Painted Veil; Loved It.
Ashenden is a true delight.
12. His Excellency; my favourite part. Read more
Published on 21 Nov 2010 by durda
5.0 out of 5 stars
Maugham at His Best
Maugham's meandering plot is punctuated by his unerring ability to draw penetrating portraits of fascinating characters; altogether ASHENDEN gives the strong impression of a real... Read more
Published on 9 Sep 2010 by Giorgio
4.0 out of 5 stars
Historically Significant
Worth a read for historical reasons as it is one of (if not the) first modern spy novels. That said, it is very far away from the intricately woven page-turners featuring brainy... Read more
Published on 28 May 2002 by A. Ross
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