Book 77 - John Le Carre "The Spy Who Came In From The Cold"

[jazzy_dave]

John Le Carre "The Spy Who Came In From The Cold" (Penguin Modern Classics)




This novel is a fine psychological yarn, the way that any spy novel should be at some level. It's smartly imagined and well wrought, and a hard story to put away. But it does not glamorise espionage; instead it makes you feel how truly dirty the spy's trade is.

What gives this book the edge is the cutting pain you see Alec Leamas experience as he plays out his comeback mission. After being ready to pack away a career, he is persuaded by a respected mentor to perform one last service for his country. It's all set up and runs its course, but you understand that it's difficult for him to carry on in his deceit. The final twists as the story climaxes are so finely described, so honestly felt, so reasonably justified, yet so soul-crushing that you'd never wish such a business on anyone, however deeply-felt their love of service.

When the last page was done, when it was clearly all over with nowhere else to go, I still didn't want to put it down. "Shouldn't there be more to it? Mustn't there be?" I know better, but the question still comes. Intelligence is not for the moral, nor for the amoral, but for those who can treat ethical questions with a pragmatic economics, and walk away not proud, feeling that the best was done that could have been, and accepting history's judgement.

I have picked up a BBC radio drama of the novel aired in 2009 on Radio 4. It will be interesting to hear how this adaptation pans out.

Comments

[sabotabby]

I love that book. And the movie.

[thespian15.livejournal.com]

I should add this to the list of classic books I should read. :o
Hugs, Jon

[pigshitpoet.livejournal.com]

oh oh! you've given me yet another title to read. when i finish the four i've already got on the go. this looks like a good escapist novel for guys.

the story challenges the premise, what is intelligence?

[kabuldur.livejournal.com]

I know how you feel.

A very famous book and it sounds like deservedly so!