Customer Reviews

Ashenden, or, The British Agent

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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.

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.

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.

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 spy at work. Really worth the journey!

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 experiences during World War 1. Through a series of interrelated short stories the reader gains an appreciation of Maugham's spying experiences. He is insightful about those he meets, their motivations, and the extent to which they might be friend or foe. In the course of these stories, Maugham's protagonist Ashenden (a self portrait) gets to travel throughout Europe and Asia on missions where he meets a diverse cast of characters. Although this world is the polar opposite of James Bond, the stakes are still high (imprisonment or death a real possibility), and on a couple of memorable occasions he witnesses first hand the outcome of his work. All the stories are good, and four of them really pack a punch (The Hairless Mexican, The Traitor, His Excellency, and Mr Harrington's Washing). The book ends on a dramatic and unexpected note. It's a minor masterpiece. I will be reading more W. Somerset Maugham very soon - and if the rest of his work is up to this standard then I'm in for a treat.

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 writing is a delight. It's not a narrative driven novel - and the introduction is well worth reading for an authorial discussion on that very subject - but each episode still contains sufficient to keep one reading on to discover what happens.

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 sequence of short stories

in terms of writing, although this was written after the first world war, the style is not dated; that applies to all good writers, such as Chandler, who have a truly rich style

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 CIA types bedding winsome females that we tend to think of as being spy novels today. Maugham served in the British intelligence corps in WWI and drew heavily upon his own experiences in writing this book, indeed the epynonymous hero is a well-known writer by profession. Each chapter is almost its own vignette, illustrating some experience or aspect of the intelligent agent's life. The theme is that the agent's life is marked by dullness and inability to know the "big picture." Ashenden is based in Switzerland and undertakes his assignments (none of which involve gunplay or physical prowess) dutifully, yet the reader feels, with a certain ambivalence. There is one especially haunting scene where, for once, Ashenden witnesses first hand, the repercussions of his actions.

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.
And,yes I do get worried when things get complicated in personal & professional life.
13. The Flip of a Coin; well number 13 for a chapter explains everything...
I am moving on to Cakes and Ale,
thanks for a bunch of wonder books
durda

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. Because of his skills as a writer one must consider that he has exagerated some of the incidents to make them into good stories - and his descriptions of the personnel concerned. They are quite extraoridary. His job as a secret agent, reported here, borders on farce. Is this what spying is all about? I laughed out loud several times. And if this is reality all I can say is funny old world!