The Complete Short Stories of W. Somerset Maughman: East and West, the World Over

First Edition thus. (1952). Fine, in 2 volumes. In publisher's original olive gray cloth, with black tiles and gilt lettering. Forest green boards and endpapers. No jacket, as issued. Content fine, with text bright, clean and unmarred. A beautiful set.

William Somerset Maugham was an English playwright, novelist, and short-story writer. He was among the most popular writers of his era and reputedly the highest-paid author during the 1930s. During the First World War, he served with the Red Cross and in the ambulance corps before being recruited in 1916 into the British Secret Intelligence Service. He worked for the service in Switzerland and Russia before the October Revolution of 1917 in the Russian Empire. During and after the war, he travelled in India, Southeast Asia and the Pacific. He drew from those experiences in his later short stories and novels.