{"product_id":"cakes-and-ale-hardcover","title":"Cakes and Ale - Hardcover","description":"\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cp style=\"text-align: right;\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/reportcopyrightinfringement.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eReport copyright infringement\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cp\u003eby \u003cb\u003eW. Somerset Maugham\u003c\/b\u003e (Author), \u003cb\u003eAndras M. Nagy\u003c\/b\u003e (Appendix by)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eCake and Ale is a satirical novel of manners and a bildungsroman, infused with autobiographical reflection and literary criticism in narrative form. It belongs to that branch of early 20th-century English fiction that examines the literary establishment itself-its pretensions, moral codes, and hypocrisies. Maugham uses the device of a writer-narrator, William Ashenden, to blur the boundary between fiction and memoir, creating a layered narrative that moves between social satire, character study, and philosophical reflection.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe story is told in the first person by Ashenden, who serves as both participant and commentator. His voice is urbane, ironic, and reflective-often sympathetic yet detached, characteristic of Maugham's narrative tone.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe structure alternates between two temporal layers: \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe present, in which Alroy Kear tries to produce a sanitized biography of Driffield; and\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe past, which Ashenden recalls-his youthful encounters with Ted and Rosie Driffield.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis double time frame allows Maugham to contrast memory and myth, truth and fabrication, and to explore how a writer's life is mythologized after death.\u003c\/p\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNumber of Pages:\u003c\/strong\u003e 170\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 0.44 x 9 x 6 IN\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePublication Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e January 01, 2026\u003c\/div\u003e\n            ","brand":"BooksCloud","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52932104159539,"sku":"9781968194154","price":35.78,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0300\/5595\/6612\/files\/8lLndxNmvS9781968194154.webp?v=1767866141","url":"https:\/\/www.vysn.com\/en-ca\/products\/cakes-and-ale-hardcover","provider":"VYSN","version":"1.0","type":"link"}