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The Secret Pilgrim

By John le Carré
Series: Penguin Modern Classics
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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
The Secret Pilgrim by John le Carré delves into the world of espionage through the reflections of a veteran spy named Ned. Under the guidance of the legendary George Smiley, Ned recounts his experiences, capturing the moral ambiguities and shifting allegiances inherent in the intelligence world. This introspective tale traverses Cold War events, exploring themes of loyalty, betrayal, and the quest for identity in a shadowy profession.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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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 the intricate world of espionage and Cold War tensions. It's a compelling narrative that delves into the complex mechanisms of the spy world through the eyes of veteran agents, offering a blend of suspense and reflective storytelling.

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The Secret Pilgrim

The Cold War is over and Ned has been demoted to the training academy. He asks his old mentor, George Smiley, to address his passing-out class. There are no laundered reminiscences; Smiley speaks the truth - perhaps the last the students will ever hear.

The final novel featuring Smiley, Le Carre's most enduring character, and a gripping feat of narrative brilliance.

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

The Secret Pilgrim is the final novel featuring Smiley, John le Carré's most enduring character, and it is a gripping feat of narrative brilliance.

The Cold War is over, and Ned has been demoted to the training academy. He asks his old mentor, George Smiley, to address his passing-out class. There are no laundered reminiscences; Smiley speaks the truth—perhaps the last the students will ever hear.

As they listen, Ned recalls his own painful triumphs and inglorious failures in a career that took him from the Western Isles of Scotland to Hamburg and from Israel to Cambodia. He asks himself: Did it do any good? What did it do to me? And what will happen to us now?

In this final Smiley novel, the great spy gives his own humane and unexpected answers.

Series: Penguin Modern Classics

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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?

The Secret Pilgrim by John le Carré is generally praised for its intricate storytelling and exploration of espionage themes. Reviewers appreciate the reflective nature of the protagonist, Ned, as he recounts tales from his career, with many noting the book’s ability to weave separate stories into a cohesive narrative. Critics often highlight how le Carré provides deep insights into the world of intelligence, with a focus on personal and ideological conflicts faced by spies.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780141196367

Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 26 May 2011

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Penguin Classics

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 21.0mm

Width: 129.0mm

Height: 199.0mm

Weight: 305g

Pages: 416

Collections

Fiction General Fiction John le Carré Literary Fiction Penguin Books Penguin Classics Series: Penguin Modern Classics

About the Author

John le Carre was born in 1931. For six decades, he wrote novels that came to define our age. The son of a confidence trickster, he spent his childhood between boarding school and the London underworld. At sixteen he found refuge at the University of Bern, then later at Oxford. A spell of teaching at Eton led him to a short career in British Intelligence (MI5 & 6). He published his debut novel, Call for the Dead, in 1961 while still a secret servant. His third novel, The Spy Who Came in from the Cold, secured him a worldwide reputation, which was consolidated by the acclaim for his trilogy, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, The Honourable Schoolboy and Smiley's People. At the end of the Cold War, le Carre widened his scope to explore an international landscape including the arms trade and the War on Terror. His memoir, The Pigeon Tunnel, was published in 2016 and the last George Smiley novel, A Legacy of Spies, appeared in 2017. He died on 12 December 2020. His posthumous novel, Silverview, was published in 2021.

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