Tuesday, May 22, 2007

A Perfect Spy by John Le Carre

Description:

"John le Carré's classic novels deftly navigate readers through the intricate shadow worlds of international espionage with unsurpassed skill and knowledge, and have earned him unprecedented worldwide acclaim.

Immersing readers in two parallel dramas -- one about the making of a spy, the other chronicling his seemingly imminent demise -- le Carré offers one of his richest and most morally resonant novels.

Magnus Pym -- son of Rick, father of Tom, and a successful career officer of British Intelligence -- has vanished, to the dismay of his friends, enemies, and wife. Who is he? Who was he? Who owns him? Who trained him? Secrets of state are at risk. As the truth about Pym gradually emerges, the reader joins Pym's pursuers to explore the unsettling life and motives of a man who fought the wars he inherited with the only weapons he knew, and so became a perfect spy."

My thoughts:

I liked the two parallel stories of Pym writing his life story to his son and of his wife Mary and his handler Jack trying to figure out where he went and why. I also liked the relationship between Pym and his friend Axel as well as the espionage details. It's a long book, but a good one.

Date read: 5/4/2007
Book #: 37
Rating: 3* = good
Genre: Fiction

ISBN-10: 0340393130
ISBN-13: 978-0340393130
Publisher: Coronet Books (New Ed Edition)
Year: 1994
# of Pages: 576
Binding: Paperback

2 comments:

Literary Feline said...

I would like to read a book by John Le Carre one day. I have yet to do that yet. I loved the movie The Constant Gardener and that has made me curious about his books. Thanks for the review.

krin said...

Thanks for the comment. Years ago in high school, I read several spy stories for an English class including Le Carre's The Spy Who Came in from the Cold. It was very good.