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My Life in CIA

A Chronicle of 1973
3.87 goodreads logo

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( 353 ratings, 61 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
My Life in CIA by Harry Mathews is a captivating narrative where the protagonist, a novelist, becomes embroiled in espionage rumours during the Cold War in Paris. As he is mistakenly identified as a CIA spy, he decides to play along, leading to a series of clever and often humorous adventures. This intriguing blend of fact and fiction delves into themes of identity, perception, and the thin line between reality and illusion.
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Format: Paperback / softback
$4799

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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you're intrigued by a captivating blend of satire and espionage. It offers a fictional account of the author being mistaken for a CIA agent in the 1970s, leading to humorous and mysterious adventures that challenge perceptions of reality and identity.

Book Hero thinking about your next read

In the early 1970s, Harry Mathews, then living in France, was commonly reputed to be a CIA agent--and so he decided to act the part. Part spellbinding thriller, part gag, this memoir documents Mathews's experiences as a would-be spy during the coup in Chile, Watergate, and the close of the Vietnam War, when various foreign agencies decided he would have to be liquidated...

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

In the early 1970s, Harry Mathews, then living in France, was commonly reputed to be a CIA agent—so he decided to act the part.

Part spellbinding thriller, part gag, this memoir documents Mathews's experiences as a would-be spy during the coup in Chile, Watergate, and the close of the Vietnam War, when various foreign agencies decided he would have to be liquidated...

My Life in CIA presents an intriguing narrative blending fact and fantasy, capturing the absurdity and thrill of his self-crafted espionage adventures.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

My Life in CIA by Harry Mathews receives mixed reviews. While some critique it as a shameful public confession, others find it an entertaining and unusual spy fantasy, particularly noting its appeal as an American expatriate tale. The Guardian appreciates its thrilling aspects, describing it as a "taut manhunt."

Book Hero reading reviews

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781564783929

Publisher: Dalkey Archive Press

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 05 March 2015

Country: United States

Imprint: Dalkey Archive Press

Illustration: Illustrations

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 16.0mm

Width: 161.0mm

Height: 216.0mm

Weight: 290g

Pages: 203

About the Author

Harry Mathews was the only American member of the Oulipo, the Workshop for Potential Literature, France's longest, and most active, literary movement. He is the author of over a dozen books, including the novels Cigarettes, TheJournalist, and Tlooth.

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