MAUGHAM, W[illiam]. Somerset (1874-1965)

[Travel] [Angkor Wat] The Gentleman in the Parlour : A Record of a Journey From Rangoon to Haiphong [Unopened]

London: William Heinemann, 1930. First Edition. Hardcover. A superb First Impression (unread) of this account of a journey Maugham made in 1923 with his then lover, the Paris-born American Gerald Haxton (with Haxton's role discretely omitted). Demy 8vo (202 x 145): [4],276pp. Publisher's smooth black cloth, front cover lettered and decorated in gold with dragon device and the Mauresque symbol that Maugham adopted as his seal, spine lettered in gold and stamped with pagoda design, fore-edge uncut, lower edge rough trimmed; matching beige dust jacket printed in red and priced 8s / 6d. Jacket's spine panel lightly toned, else unopened and virtually pristine. Stott A39a. Rothschild Collection V.158. Fine / Fine. Item #BB2334

Maugham's second travel book (after On a Chinese Screen). In Ceylon, a British government official recommended that Maugham visit Keng Tung, in the remote Shan States of north Burma. Maugham sailed to Rangoon and traveled on to Mandalay, where he set off by mule for the 26-day trek to Keng Tung. Then he made his way to the Thai border and on to Bangkok by car, reaching Cambodia by boat, where he toured the temple complex at Angkor Wat. The final leg was by river to Saigon and then along the coast via Hue to Hanoi. N. B. With few exceptions (always identified), we only stock books in exceptional condition, with dust jackets carefully preserved in archival, removable mylar sleeves. All orders are packaged with care and posted promptly. Satisfaction guaranteed. (Fine Editions Ltd is a member of the Independent Online Booksellers Association, and we subscribe to its codes of ethics.).

Price: $1,774.00