Reviews for William McGonagall: Freefall

The average rating for William McGonagall: Freefall based on 2 reviews is 2.5 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2015-06-11 00:00:00 Carl Chestang Big let down - Spike's one-liners wear thin after the first chapter, and a whole novel is painful.

Review # 2 was written on 2018-05-16 00:00:00 Desiree Delay This fascinating, and delightful, book is often regarded as the first spy story and a precursor to Smiley and James Bond. Based on W. Somerset Maugham�s real life experience working for the Secret Service in WWI, this is a collection of linked stories about his fictional alter ego Ashenden. Like Maugham, Ashenden is an author; approached by a middle-aged Colonel (later known as �R�) at a party in London, shortly after the outbreak of the first world war. He suggests that, as Ashenden speaks several European languages and his profession is a perfect cover, he joins the intelligence agency. Despite the comment that, �if you do well you�ll get no thanks and if you get into trouble you�ll get no help,� Ashenden seems happy enough to oblige. What follows is an odd , often bizarre, series of events which mainly take place in hotels, restaurants and trains, far from the theatre of war. Espionage in WWI was often frowned upon as not being gentlemanly. While describing an agent, nicknamed �the Hairless Mexican,� that Ashenden is asked to accompany to Italy, R remarks that, �he hasn�t had the advantages of a public school education.� Again, when Ashenden suggests that another agent has offered to carry out as assassination for money, R expostulates, �damn it all, we are gentlemen!� However, despite the various restrictions and general distrust of spying, Ashenden has a calm head and is entrusted with some very important missions. We follow him through France, Switzerland, Italy and Russia, as he uncovers spy networks, accompanies agents to intercept certain documents, tries to trap Indian nationalists and is bored to death by an American businessman on the Trans-Siberian express. Maugham�s writing was never less than brilliant and this is no exception. To spend time in the company of his writing is always a delight and this is a wonderful, charming set of stories � told with typical British reserve � but perhaps even more moving because of the understatement. Although Ashenden does not venture into the field of battle, we (and his hero) are always aware of the soldiers in their trenches and the fact that the outcome of his various missions may result in a firing squad at dawn...