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Title: The Spy Who Came In from the Cold by John le Carre ISBN: 0-7434-4253-9 Publisher: Scribner Pub. Date: 01 December, 2001 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $14.00 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.53 (64 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: Not My Usual Genre, But An Excellent Read
Comment: I was given the task of selling of the library of the clinic where I work (we needed the space) and, mixed in with 150 psychology and social work texts, was a copy of "The Spy Who Came in from the Cold". I've read quite a few James Bond novels, but this might be the only serious spy thriller I've read. I state this to make it clear that I have no ability to rank this book within its genre.
That said, I can say that this book is intricate, well-written, fast-paced, loaded with intrigue, and has good character development for the core characters, along some of the peripheral characters seem interchangeable. Alec Leamas is a British Intelligence agent working in Cold War East Germany, organizing a network of information sources. When his agents start getting killed, he is recalled to London, and a very elaborate plot to address the problem is launched.
This is not a pretty story with an admirable hero, a damsel in distress, fancy spy gadgets, and a happy ending. It seems obsolete now, with the Cold War over and the Berlin Wall gone, but it is very true to its era.
The copy I read was the 1964 first American printing of the story, and there were more typographical errors than I'm used to seeing, including whole lines of text out of order. However, this didn't interfere with my enjoyment of the book.
If you're not accustomed to reading spy thrillers, and you can handle a gritty story, you might want to give this a try. If you are a fan of the genre, and you haven't read this one, you're probably missing something.
Rating: 5
Summary: Awesome Book
Comment: Le Carre is the master. I know his new book is out, but this is still a classic.
Rating: 3
Summary: Moderately entertaining spy novel
Comment: I found this to be a slightly entertaining spy novel; I don't think it is anywhere close to justifying the superlative reviews that have been ladled on it, both on this website and by others. After reading Ian Fleming's Bond novels (and perhaps I was spoiled by Fleming) I was extremely hopeful for this book, ostensibly the "finest" spy novel ever written.
The main romance was a bit difficult to believe, and the plot was somewhat formulaic, but I suppose it isn't too bad. Anyway, even if I'm the only person in the world who doesn't love it, and my review is entirely offbase, I figure that your slightly diminished expectations will be exceeded even farther by the book, and you will be more delighted because of my lukewarm review.
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Title: Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy by John le Carre ISBN: 0743457900 Publisher: Scribner Pub. Date: 01 October, 2002 List Price(USD): $14.00 |
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Title: Smiley's People by John le Carre ISBN: 0671042769 Publisher: Pocket Books Pub. Date: 01 February, 2000 List Price(USD): $7.99 |
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Title: Call for the Dead by John le Carre ISBN: 0743431677 Publisher: Scribner Pub. Date: 01 February, 2002 List Price(USD): $13.00 |
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Title: The Looking Glass War by John Le Carre ISBN: 0743431707 Publisher: Scribner Pub. Date: 01 March, 2002 List Price(USD): $14.00 |
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Title: A Perfect Spy by John le Carre ISBN: 0671042750 Publisher: Pocket Books Pub. Date: 01 April, 2000 List Price(USD): $7.99 |
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