bout de papier, Vol. 4, No. 2 (1986) — Spring/Summer 1986 // Printemps/Été 1986, p. 28
John Starnes on: A Perfect Spy: by
John le Carré. Published by Penguin
Books Canada Ltd. ($22.95).
John le Carré (David John Moore Cornwell) has done it again in his latest novel, A Perfect Spy (Book-of-the-Month Club main selection). I found it among the best of his books I have read or seen portrayed on film and TV. A Perfect Spy may not be faultless, but undoubtedly it will enthrall, entertain and fascinate his many readers and fans (over 20 million copies alone have been sold of his third book, The Spy Who Came In from the Cold, first published in 1963).
Le Carré deals skillfully with the convoluted, sad story of Magnus Pym, a member of the British Secret Intelligence Service, who for 30 years cons This employers into believing in mythical espionage networks he creates and the intelligence they produce, while in reality working for the Czech Intelligence Service. The drama of Pym’s life is developed concurrently with that of three other principal characters, his Czech and British ’handlers’ and his completely crooked father. Le Carré creates an atmosphere of mounting suspense, which he manages to maintain throughout the 475 pages of the book, a singular achievement. As with some of his earlier books he depicts with convincing authority and candor the clandestine world of espionage, a world where deceit, betrayal, treachery and constant fear are the norm, and moral values equivocal
One cannot help but wonder if the author has introduced bits of his own life into the book. To some extent every novelist does. For example, when being recruited for the Secret Service, Pym says he went to university in Bern. David Cornwell attended the University of Bern, in 1948-49, and both Pym and Cornwell attended Oxford University.
I met David Cornwell in Bonn when I was Canadian Ambassador and he was a second secretary at the British Embassy, in about 1962-63. I remember being present with him at the odd ’Herrenabend’ (stag party), where he acquitted himself with eloquence and wit, which is so richly reflected in his prose.
I am envious of his ability to weave such a detailed, complicated story with such facility, and of the brilliant manner in which he portrays the many characters he dreams up. At times the words fly across the pages. I found fascinating his descriptions of the art of espionage and the paraphernalia, although I suspect he has invented some of it. His treatment of the international espionage bureaucracy is devastating, and very funny. Occasionally the story and the dialogue seems too complicated and clever by half. The ending I found anti-climatic, and a bit disappointing.
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Originally published in bout de papier, Vol. 4, No. 2 (1986) — Spring/Summer 1986 // Printemps/Été 1986, p. 28. Read the rest of this issue →
