Arnold Bennett's copySomerset Maugham's famous collection of short stories set in Europe and Russia during the First World War, in large part based on the author's own undercover experiences. It is believed that initially there were 31 stories but 14 had to be destroyed on Churchill's orders as they were in breach of the Official Secrets Act. Many authors of spy fiction have acknowledged the importance and merit of this work over the years, including John Le Carré, Graham Greene, Eric Ambler, Julian Symons and Raymond Chandler. The book was included in Queen's Quorum (#78) and qualified as a Haycraft-Queen Cornerstone; it was also the basis for the Hitchcock film The Secret Agent, starring John Gielgud, Madeleine Carroll and Peter Lorre.First edition, first impression; 8vo; Arnold Bennett's illustrated bookplate to front pastedown, booksellers tickets to front and rear pastedowns; publisher's blue cloth, titles to spine and upper cover gilt, worn, with rubbing to extremities and bump to fore-edge of front panel, spine a touch faded, with supplied dust-jacket, 'A' and final 'N' in Ashenden rubbed, short closed tear to lower edge of front panel, minor fading to spine; a very good copy in near-fine supplied dust-jacket, housed in red half-morocco slipcase with red cloth chemise.
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