In his revealing introduction written specially for this edition, W. Somerset Maugham expresses his own preference among all the novels in his long and distinguished career. He says: "I am willing enough to agree with common opinion that Of Human Bondage is my best work. It is the kind of book that an author can only write once. After all, he has only one life. But the book I like best is Cakes and Ale." The same distinction has been made by countless enthusiastic readers. They consider Of Human Bondage Maugham's masterpiece. But the novel they take to their hearts for its candor and warmth and humor is Cakes and Ale. The third Maugham novel in the Modern Library (Of Human Bondage, No. 1 76, and The Moon and Sixpence, No. 27, are the other two), is introduced into the series with the author's own version of the controversies and conjectures aroused by this withering but affectionate satire.