Maugham (William Somerset) Ashenden, or, The British Agent, first edition, patch of light tape-browning to half-title and final p., bookplate of Adrian Homer Goldstone to front pastedown, original cloth, very light fading to spine, extremities a little rubbed, dust-jacket priced at 7/6, spine ends and corners chipped, touching final letter of title at head of spine, a few short closed tears with creasing to head and foot with neat tape repairs to verso, [Stott A37a], 8vo, William Heinemann, 1928.

⁂ An attractive copy of the author's spy stories, a cornerstone of the spy thriller genre based largely on his own undercover experiences in Europe & Russia. 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.