Cakes and Ale: or, The Skeleton in the Cupboard

London: Heinemann, (1930).

Price: $450.00

Hardcover. First edition, Stott's state B with won't on p. 147 (no priority according to Stott). Fine in fine dustwrapper. An excellent copy of Maugham's favorite among his own novels, a wicked little *roman à clef* that Maugham denied was about Thomas Hardy and his marriage, or about an unctuous and annoying young writer who he denied was Hugh Walpole.

Item #565808

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Item #565808 Cakes and Ale: or, The Skeleton in the Cupboard. W. Somerset MAUGHAM.

W. Somerset Maugham
birth name: William Somerset Maugham
born: 1/25/1874
died: 12/16/1965
nationality: Great Britain

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Biography

English novelist, playwright, and short-story writer whose work is characterized by a clear, unadorned style, cosmopolitan settings, and a shrewd understanding of human nature. - Merriam-Webster's Encyclopedia of Literaturemore

Collecting tips:

Maugham was especially prolific. Among our favorites are The Razor's Edge (1944), the American edition preceding the U.K. edition, issued in the U.S. in both a limited and trade edition (the limited had an unprinted glassine jacket - usually missing - and a slipcase, the trade a jacket), The Moon and Sixpence (1919 - the jacket is very scarce), and his first book, Liza of Lambeth (1897 - reportedly issued with a jacket, we've never seen one but suspect that indeed it was). We are intrigued by his many plays, although it can take considerable effort to figure out the various editions and states, even with the good Stott bibliography.

Email us to request a printed copy of our catalog of W. Somerset Maugham Rare Books and First Editions (or download it via the link as a 3.13 MB pdf file).more