The Spy Who Came in from the Cold
1963 • 301 pages
Ratings89
Average rating4
15
Ratings89
Average rating4
Alex Leamas is tired. It's the 1960s, he's been out in the cold for years, spying in Berlin for his British masters, and has seen too many good agents murdered for their troubles. Now Control wants to bring him in at last - but only after one final assignment. He must travel deep into the heart of Communist Germany and betray his country, a job that he will do with his usual cynical professionalism. But when George Smiley tries to help a young woman Leamas has befriended, Leamas's mission may prove to be the worst thing he could ever have done. In le Carré's breakthrough work of 1963, the spy story is reborn as a gritty and terrible tale of men who are caught up in politics beyond their imagining. With a new introduction by William Boyd and an afterword by Le Carré himself.
Featured Series
9 primary booksGeorge Smiley is a 9-book series with 9 primary works first released in 1961 with contributions by John le Carré.
Reviews with the most likes.
Reading this makes me feel as if I am in the novel. I feel like I am the one attempting to digest and work out the ulterior motives at play.
HIs use of detachment from the ulterior motives of the ‘Circus' allows the reader to fully grasp the ‘left in the dark' attitude of the protagonist and Liz. The presentation of those on the other side as friendly and comrades presents the disenfranchised agent perfectly.
One of my favourites, Le Carré does it again.
DISCLAIMER: I listened to this on the Libby app through the Library, which listed this as an unabridged audiobook, however it was actually a three hour BBC radio adaptation miniseries. I'm still going to count this as read, haha.
This was well produced with several different voice actors, including Brian Cox in the lead role, giving great performances. It was a neat way to experience the story.
I thought it was a bit slow to start and I'm not sure I was following all the setup as well as I should have been, but once the story goes into full intrigue mode it had me hooked. Each new piece of information revealed keeps you changing your mind as to how things will resolve. The book also raises some broader political and moral questions, asking how far is too far for the greater good.
I'll probably try to read some more le Carré in the future, maybe even another BBC production!
I feel like I have no idea what really went on in this, but I liked what I could follow... Very twisty and spy-y. (Also, the whole time I just kept thinking of Fry & Laurie skits like this one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QkKSRPOe72M)
I've always heard people rave about le Carré. They were right.
