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ursineultra's review against another edition
5.0
Beautifully written stories of a spy in WW1. Like a less annoying and less fanciful Bond, Ashenden mainly takes hot baths, gets anxious whilst waiting for trains, and stares longingly at breasts in hotel bars. The characters he meets are all incredibly well rendered and the author has the confidence in his ability to leave a scene as soon as he knows that you know what comes next.
The final story, where Ashenden accompanies an American to Vladivostok and meets an old flame, was my favourite. The final scenes, as the Bolsheviks take power and the city descends into quiet chaos, will stay with me for years.
The final story, where Ashenden accompanies an American to Vladivostok and meets an old flame, was my favourite. The final scenes, as the Bolsheviks take power and the city descends into quiet chaos, will stay with me for years.
bajohnson's review against another edition
4.0
After reading the reviews I was worried this might be too dull, but I ended up enjoying it.
Very engaging despite not having the typical amount of action. I just wish it had been tied together a little better. The ending in particular left me feeling robbed.
Very engaging despite not having the typical amount of action. I just wish it had been tied together a little better. The ending in particular left me feeling robbed.
linaleigh's review against another edition
2.0
I think I was too young when I read this - I didn't really understand it and found it incredibly confusing. It is one of many books I attempted to read too young and which I intend to reread.
jarrigy's review against another edition
4.0
Any writer born after 1874 can’t cook… all they know is Dubonnet, write they telegrams, Kamarinskaya, be bisexual, eat truite au bleu and spy.
coops456's review against another edition
2.0
Less a novel and more a collection of short stories, even anecdotes, based on Maugham's own work for the intelligence service during WWI.
Easy to read but not that satisfying, the stories feel disjointed. Dated - particularly with regard to the view of foreigners and other races as (sometimes offensive) stereotypes.
Easy to read but not that satisfying, the stories feel disjointed. Dated - particularly with regard to the view of foreigners and other races as (sometimes offensive) stereotypes.
psalva's review against another edition
3.0
Quite an interesting collection of spy stories, all centered around Ashenden, openly based on Maugham himself who was a WWI spy. The stories flow into each other but could be read individually. Many unlikeable characters, colonial BS, racism, and antisemitism make some of the stories distasteful. Yet, overall I’m glad I read this. I’m intrigued by Maugham for some reason and I haven’t figured out why yet.
maplessence's review against another edition
3.0
3.5★
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.
The other problem for me was I was reading this book on Open Library. Apparently downloading on to your Kindle is only available in the States (Boo! Hiss!) If anyone knows a work around I would be grateful. Reading on my laptop wasn't an altogether enjoyable experience.
https://wordpress.com/view/carolshessonovel.wordpress.com
"I gather from what you have not said that he is an unmitigated scoundrel."
R. smiled with his pale blue eyes.
"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."
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.
The other problem for me was I was reading this book on Open Library. Apparently downloading on to your Kindle is only available in the States (Boo! Hiss!) If anyone knows a work around I would be grateful. Reading on my laptop wasn't an altogether enjoyable experience.
https://wordpress.com/view/carolshessonovel.wordpress.com
glenmowrer's review against another edition
3.0
3 1/2* Rating is based partially on the historic worth of this piece as literature. It certainly created a format for the "objective" observation of spies and their work. Cynicism came immediately later. Maugham seems to reflect the view of his social class as displayed in the conduct of Ashenden (his surrogate) in the service of the British Empire. Of course the author is so quiet and compelling that everything he wrote has been enjoyable to me.
cmclean997's review against another edition
challenging
funny
medium-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0