A Legacy of Spies

For the first time in over 30 years, John le Carré returns to the compelling landscape of the Cold War in this thrilling masterpiece. A Legacy of Spies brings back some of the most memorable characters from his celebrated novels, including Peter Guillam and the enigmatic George Smiley.

Peter Guillam, a loyal colleague and disciple of George Smiley from the British Secret Service, affectionately known as the Circus, has retired to his family farmstead on the picturesque south coast of Brittany. His peaceful retirement is abruptly interrupted when a letter from his former Service insists upon his urgent return to London. The reason for this unexpected summons? His Cold War past has resurfaced to haunt him. Intelligence operations that were once lauded as triumphs of secret London are now under scrutiny by a new generation that has no memory of the Cold War's precarious tensions and moral quagmires.

As these old missions are re-examined, the sacrifices and decisions made in the name of the greater good are questioned, and someone must be held accountable for the innocent lives lost. Guillam finds himself in the precarious position of defending operations and decisions that were once beyond reproach but are now viewed through a sceptical lens.

Le Carré masterfully interweaves past and present, creating a narrative that is rich with tension and intrigue. Through flashbacks and present-day investigations, both timelines unfold to reveal secrets that have long been buried. As the story progresses, readers are drawn deeper into the enigmatic world of espionage, where loyalty and betrayal, honour and deception, and past and present collide.

With A Legacy of Spies, John le Carré offers a novel of extraordinary depth and enduring quality. His expert storytelling and deep understanding of the complexities of espionage ensure that this book is as much a gripping thriller as it is a poignant reflection on the lasting impacts of the Cold War.