As a result of my attempts to limit the number of books that
clutter our flat, a few months ago I donated a dozen novels to the LSE Library.
One of the librarians congratulated herself on most of my books, except for Le
Carré’s The Russia House. Granted, I
didn’t love it, but I thought that was excessively snobbish (and that’s coming
from me!) and prejudiced against a writer who only made the mistake of creating
some of the greatest spy stories ever written and did so in a way that ensured
popular acclaim.
Tinker, Tailor,
Soldiery Spy was first suggested to me by my old boss (I really do miss her
at times) and she was right – though I still need to see the movie that she
recommended just as wholeheartedly.
George Smiley is absolutely awesome, and it is clearly not
surprising that he is the protagonist of a whole series of novels and not just
one. His problematic love life adds a layer to the novel. The plot, in its
twistiness, is gripping yet complex. And the way in which the chapters cross
space and time is done in a way that keeps the reader interested and,
crucially, confused. Desperately trying to figure out who the mole is, the only
thing I knew for sure is that it couldn’t be the “obvious” culprit. And “obviously”
I was wrong…
No comments:
Post a Comment