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The Spy Who Came In from the Cold

December 7, 2009
Book of the Day: The Spy Who Came In from the Cold, by John le Carré
Grade: A
First published: 1963
1-word review: Deception
4-word review: Spies are dreary folk.

John le Carré revolutionized the spy genre with this novel. He used his own experiences as a British spy to inject a dismal realism into this complex tale of the early years of the Cold War in Europe. Alec Leamas, the "Spy" of the title, is a case agent for British intelligence in Germany who returns to London after the last of his spies is killed on his watch. He is then asked to become a double agent, pretending to spy for the East German secret service while in reality trying to bring down one of its leaders.

Le Carré dispenses with a 007-style romantic view of spying. Instead we see Leamas as an average-looking middle-aged man who drinks too much and is incapable of normal human relationships. The plot is intricate, full of deceit and double-crossing.

Here is the Berlin Wall, a symbol of the Cold War and a lot of terrible pop music from the late '80's and early '90's.


My only hope is that, in my lifetime, we may see a similar wall built around Idaho.

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