A paean to Spain's golden age of enormous creativity, this novel begins with the tale of Loyola's life and conversion, discusses the writings of St Teresa, the paintings of El Greco, and comments on such figures as Cervantes, Luis de Leon, Lope de Vega, Velazquez and the creator of Don Juan.

A colourful collection of essays of literary criticism. Topics covered span from Kant to Raymond Chandler, from the legend of Zurbaran to the art of the detective story, and from Burke to Augustus Hare.

From 1892, when he was eighteen, until 1949, when this book was first published, Somerset Maugham kept a notebook. It is without doubt one of his most important works. Part autobiographical, part confessional, packed with observations, confidences, experiments and jottings it is a rich and exhilarating admission into this great writer's workshop.