This beautifully bound edition is in near fine condition. The pages are crisp and appear unread, and the binding remains firm throughout. It features an elegant full grey cloth binding, richly adorned with dense gilt lines and lettering on the spine, and a striking gilt ornament on the front cover—Maugham’s personal symbol and literary monogram, a distinctive mark used across many of his works. The presence of this emblem on the cover serves as the author’s personal stamp of authenticity, much like a craftsman’s mark, and has become a recognizable hallmark of his collected editions and enduring literary legacy. The Complete Short Stories of W. Somerset Maugham: Volume 1, published by Doubleday, gathers many of the stories that cemented his reputation as a master storyteller. Originally titled Altogether: The Collected Stories of W. Somerset Maugham in the UK, this volume focuses on tales set in the Far East, drawn from Maugham’s extensive travels and his experiences as a British intelligence agent. His acute observations of human nature, combined with his gift for character and setting, imbue these stories with a lasting vitality that continues to captivate readers today.