The Gentleman in the Parlour: A Record of a Journey from Rangoon to Haiphang

London: William Heinemann, 1930 First edition, first printing. Inscribed by the author to his friend Reggie Turner to front free endpaper: "For the idle Apprentice / Reginald / from his friend / WM". Publisher's smooth black cloth stamped in gilt to front board with a design of a dragon with a forked tongue and the author's symbol, title lettered in gilt, spine lettered in gilt and stamped with pagoda design; in the original matching dust jacket stamped in red over a beige background. A near fine copy with a few faint white spots to cloth, light foxing to front endpapers, front hinge starting at first free leaf but overall generally sturdy; in a near fine dust jacket with some light soiling and toning to extremities, rubbed to spine ends and corners. Overall, a beautiful copy inscribed by the author. Stott A39a. This copy is inscribed to Reginald "Reggie" Turner (1869-1938). Himself an author, Turner was a member of Oscar Wilde's literary circle that included writers like H. G. Wells, D. H. Lawrence, and W. Somerset Maugham. Notably, the friendship between Maughan and Turner began when Turner wrote an appreciative review of one of Maugham's earliest plays, Lady Frederick, which was first performed in 1907. The Gentleman in the Parlour is an account of Maugham's travels through Southeast Asia, beginning in what was then Burma, and ending in Haiphong, Vietnam. His detailed and charming descriptions of the people and places he encountered provide a vivid picture of the countries he visited. Maugham writes a disclaimer about the book to his readers at the beginning of his fourth chapter: "I am writing it for my own diversion and I hope that it will divert also such as care to spend a few hours in reading it. I am a professional writer and I hope to get from it a certain amount of money and perhaps a little praise.". Inscribed by Author. First Edition. Hard Cover. Near Fine/Dust Jacket Included.