Cakes and Ale; or, The Skeleton in the Cupboard
Price: $350.00
Hard Cover. London: William Heinemann, 1930. First Edition. Very Good / Dust Jacket Included.
First edition, first printing, state B with "won't" on p. 147, line 14 (no priority). Publisher's Persian blue cloth, with author's symbol in black to front board, gilt lettering to front board and spine; in its original white dust jacket, with carriage and author's symbol in red to front panel, black lettering to front panel and spine, and 7/6 price to spine. Near fine book, with very light toning to spine, bright gilt, front board slightly bowed, and upper corners lightly bumped; very good dust jacket, with some toning to spine, a small spot of staining to front panel, light wear to spine ends and edges, and corners slightly nicked. Overall, a pleasing copy. Stott A40. Cakes and Ale is a satirical novel about the pretentiousness and snobbery of the London literary community. It's the story of Alroy Kear, an ambitious and aspiring young writer, who is trying to write a biography of the recently deceased novelist Edward Driffield and has contacted William Ashenden, Driffield's long-time friend and fellow author, about the deceased's past. Specifically, the men focus on Driffield's first wife, Rosie, an honest and free-spirited woman who is considered Driffield's "skeleton in the closet" because of her promiscuity, despite being the author's muse. In his introduction to a later edition of the book, Maugham wrote, "I am willing enough to agree with common opinion that Of Human Bondage is my best work….But the book I like best is Cakes and Ale…because in its pages lives for me again the woman with the lovely smile with was the model for Rosie Driffield." Item #WSM030
