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The Spy Who Came in from the Cold

The Smiley Collection
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( 114,123 ratings, 7,029 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
In The Spy Who Came in from the Cold by John le Carré, Alec Leamas, a disillusioned British intelligence officer, is sent on one final mission to take down an East German intelligence figure. As he navigates a web of deceit and betrayal, he questions the moral ambiguities of his profession and the true cost of espionage.
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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 love gripping Cold War espionage thrillers with complex characters and intricate plots. It delves deep into the murky world of spies, full of moral ambiguity and unexpected twists.

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The Spy Who Came in from the Cold

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 Spy Who Came in from the Cold by John le Carré is a gripping, intense novel set against the backdrop of the Cold War. The story follows Alec Leamas, a British intelligence officer, who has just witnessed the collapse of his East Berlin espionage network. Facing the demoralising prospect of being pulled back from the field, Leamas is given a final mission: to bring down Mundt, the enigmatic and ruthless head of the East German Intelligence Service. What follows is a masterfully woven tale of intrigue and deception, as Leamas navigates a complex web of double agents and shadowy secrets.

The Spy Who Came in from the Cold was first published in 1963, at the height of Cold War tensions. Written over a period of about five weeks, the novel emerged as a response to the fear and ugliness symbolised by the Berlin Wall. Its bitter and devastating narrative crystallised the doubts and moral dilemmas of the time, offering a stark, unromantic portrayal of espionage that was at once timely and timeless.

The novel not only altered our understanding of the Cold War but also redefined the spy genre. Gone were the glamorous agents and flashy gadgets; in their place were morally conflicted characters and a grim realism that reflected the actual stakes of international espionage.

John le Carré's career was irrevocably transformed by the success of this book. It propelled him to international fame, establishing him as one of the foremost writers of spy fiction. Central to the le Carré canon, this novel also introduced readers to George Smiley, the understated yet iconic character who would appear in many of his subsequent works.

As we publish all of le Carré's work for the first time, a special look has been designed for the books featuring George Smiley. This edition of The Spy Who Came in from the Cold is a must-read for fans of literary fiction, Cold War history, and anyone intrigued by the moral complexities of espionage.

Series: The Smiley Collection

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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 Spy Who Came in from the Cold by John le Carré has been praised for its compelling and intricate plot, as well as its realistic depiction of Cold War espionage. Reviewers often highlight the novel's moral ambiguity and complex characters. It is frequently described as a gripping and thought-provoking read that keeps readers engaged until the very end.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780241330920

Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 27 February 2020

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Penguin Classics

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 15.0mm

Width: 111.0mm

Height: 181.0mm

Weight: 151g

Pages: 256

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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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