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Cakes and Ale
Hardcover
Classic FictionGeneral FictionLiterary Fiction
ISBN13: 9781025403892
Publisher: Tradd Street Press
Published: Feb 14 2026
Pages: 402
Weight: 1.62
Height: 0.88 Width: 6.14 Depth: 9.21
Language: English
Cakes and Ale is a masterful and biting satire that explores the complexities of literary fame and the social hypocrisies of the London elite. The novel follows the narrator, Willie Ashenden, as he is asked to contribute memories for a biography of the late Edward Driffield, a grand old man of letters. As the narrative weaves between the present and the past, it uncovers the stark contrast between Driffield's polished public reputation and his vibrant, often scandalous private life.
At the heart of the story is Rosie Gann, Driffield's first wife, a barmaid whose warmth and unconventional morality serve as a foil to the cold, calculating social climbers of the literary world. Through Rosie, Maugham examines the authenticity of human emotion against a backdrop of rigid class structures and pretentious intellectualism. The novel is celebrated for its sharp wit, elegant prose, and its candid portrayal of the writer's craft and the fickle nature of artistic legacy.
Often considered one of Maugham's most personal works, Cakes and Ale remains a definitive study of the tension between the public mask and the private self. It offers a timeless critique of how history and biographers sanitize the lives of the great for public consumption.
This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you may see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work.
This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.
As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.
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