BOOK DETAILS
Trade paper ISBN-13: 978-1943910243 List Price: $16.99 U.S. Pages: 158 Published: 2016 |
Behind the Mirror (1955)
Robin Maugham Book Description
A film company is making a movie about Daphne Moore, a famous actress of the 1920s, but to proceed they must secure the permission of Norman Hartleigh, a former diplomat once deeply involved with the star. So far, the reclusive Hartleigh has ignored all communications, so scriptwriter David Brent is sent to East Africa to track him down. When Hartleigh refuses to cooperate, Brent resolves to learn why and must uncover the details of his relationship with Daphne Moore, the real reason for his abrupt resignation from the Foreign Office in 1928, and the true nature of his involvement with his young companion, Bill Wayne. In a dramatic climax, the whole truth of what lies "behind the mirror" is exposed, with shattering consequences ... Robin Maugham (1916-1981), who at the height of his career was one of the most popular authors in England, is best known today for his novella The Servant (1948), The Wrong People (1967), a controversial novel and classic of gay fiction, and his writings about his famous uncle, W. Somerset Maugham. Behind the Mirror (1955) is both a page-turning mystery and an acutely insightful psychological thriller. This new edition reproduces the original jacket art by John Minton. |
reviews
‘One of Lord Maugham's best novels.’ – Francis King, Spectator
‘Never ceases to be entertaining.’ – New Yorker
‘Exciting and compelling ... This is one of those small books that says a lot more than many bulkier volumes.’ – Saturday Review
‘Never ceases to be entertaining.’ – New Yorker
‘Exciting and compelling ... This is one of those small books that says a lot more than many bulkier volumes.’ – Saturday Review
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AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY
Robin Maugham was born Robert Cecil Romer Maugham in 1916, the son of Frederic Maugham, 1st Viscount Maugham, and Helen Romer, and nephew of the famous author W. Somerset Maugham. Educated at Eton and Cambridge, Maugham trained as a barrister but instead decided to follow in his uncle’s footsteps and pursue a career in literature.
Maugham served with distinction in World War II in North Africa, where he reportedly saved the lives of 40 men and sustained a head injury that resulted in blackouts. While convalescing from his wounds, Maugham wrote his first book, Come to Dust (1945), which drew on his war experiences. The book was praised by Graham Greene and sold well, convincing Maugham to continue writing full time. Over the next thirty years, Maugham would be one of England’s most popular writers, publishing some twenty volumes of fiction and a dozen nonfiction works, including travel writing, biographies of his uncle, and the autobiography Escape from the Shadows (1972), which dealt frankly with the three “shadows” over Maugham’s life: his father, his uncle, and his own homosexuality. Maugham was also a prolific playwright, writing scripts for stage, radio, and television.
Among his many works, highlights include the classic novella The Servant (1948), memorably filmed by Joseph Losey in 1963; Line on Ginger (1949), filmed as The Intruder (1953); The Wrong People (1967), a controversial novel dealing with pederasty and initially published pseudonymously, and The Link: A Victorian Mystery (1969), loosely based on the real-life Tichborne case.
On the death of his father in 1958, Maugham succeeded to the viscountcy, becoming the 2nd Viscount Maugham. His first speech in the House of Lords drew attention to the subject of human trafficking and led to a book on the subject, The Slaves of Timbuktu (1961). He traveled widely, living for ten years on the island of Ibiza, but towards the end of his life his health deteriorated due to diabetes and alcoholism. He died in Brighton in 1981.
Maugham served with distinction in World War II in North Africa, where he reportedly saved the lives of 40 men and sustained a head injury that resulted in blackouts. While convalescing from his wounds, Maugham wrote his first book, Come to Dust (1945), which drew on his war experiences. The book was praised by Graham Greene and sold well, convincing Maugham to continue writing full time. Over the next thirty years, Maugham would be one of England’s most popular writers, publishing some twenty volumes of fiction and a dozen nonfiction works, including travel writing, biographies of his uncle, and the autobiography Escape from the Shadows (1972), which dealt frankly with the three “shadows” over Maugham’s life: his father, his uncle, and his own homosexuality. Maugham was also a prolific playwright, writing scripts for stage, radio, and television.
Among his many works, highlights include the classic novella The Servant (1948), memorably filmed by Joseph Losey in 1963; Line on Ginger (1949), filmed as The Intruder (1953); The Wrong People (1967), a controversial novel dealing with pederasty and initially published pseudonymously, and The Link: A Victorian Mystery (1969), loosely based on the real-life Tichborne case.
On the death of his father in 1958, Maugham succeeded to the viscountcy, becoming the 2nd Viscount Maugham. His first speech in the House of Lords drew attention to the subject of human trafficking and led to a book on the subject, The Slaves of Timbuktu (1961). He traveled widely, living for ten years on the island of Ibiza, but towards the end of his life his health deteriorated due to diabetes and alcoholism. He died in Brighton in 1981.