Cakes and Ale is the book that roused a storm of controversy when it was first published.It is both a wickedly satrical novel about contemporary literary poseurs and a skilfully crafted study of freedom.It is also the book by which Maugham most wanted to be remembered-and probably still is. As he traces the fortunes of Edward Driffield and his extraordinary wife Rosie,one of the most delightful heroines of twentieth-century literature,Maugham`s sardonic wit and lyrical warmth expertly combine in this accomplished and unforgettable novel.