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The Mole: The Cold War Memoir of Winston Bates: A Novel
The fictitious memoir of an unlikely foreign spy planted in Washington, D.C., in the years after World War II
Recruited by a foreign power in postwar Paris and sent to Washington, Winston Bates is without training or talent. He might be a walking definition of the anti-spy. Yet he makes his way onto the staff of the powerful Senator Richard Russell, head of the Armed Services Committee. From that perch, Bates has extensive and revealing contacts with the Dulles brothers, Richard Bissell, Richard Helms, Lyndon Johnson, Joe Alsop, Walter Lippman, Roy Cohn, and even Ollie North to name but a few of the historical players in the American experience Winston befriends―and haplessly betrays for a quarter century. A comedy of manners set within the circles of power and information, Peter Warner's The Mole is a witty social history of Washington in the latter half of the twentieth century that presents the How much damage can be done by the wrong person in the right place at the right time? Written as Winston's memoir, The Mole details the American Century from an angle definitely off center. From Suez, the U-2 Crash, the Bay of Pigs, Vietnam, and Watergate, the novel is richly and factually detailed, marvelously convincing, and offers the reader a slightly subversive character searching for identity and meaning (as well as his elusive handler) in a heady time during one of history's most defining eras.
Recruited by a foreign power in postwar Paris and sent to Washington, Winston Bates is without training or talent. He might be a walking definition of the anti-spy. Yet he makes his way onto the staff of the powerful Senator Richard Russell, head of the Armed Services Committee. From that perch, Bates has extensive and revealing contacts with the Dulles brothers, Richard Bissell, Richard Helms, Lyndon Johnson, Joe Alsop, Walter Lippman, Roy Cohn, and even Ollie North to name but a few of the historical players in the American experience Winston befriends―and haplessly betrays for a quarter century. A comedy of manners set within the circles of power and information, Peter Warner's The Mole is a witty social history of Washington in the latter half of the twentieth century that presents the How much damage can be done by the wrong person in the right place at the right time? Written as Winston's memoir, The Mole details the American Century from an angle definitely off center. From Suez, the U-2 Crash, the Bay of Pigs, Vietnam, and Watergate, the novel is richly and factually detailed, marvelously convincing, and offers the reader a slightly subversive character searching for identity and meaning (as well as his elusive handler) in a heady time during one of history's most defining eras.
- GenresFiction
368 pages, Hardcover
First published October 22, 2013
About the author
Peter Warner
2 books3 followersPeter Warner grew up in New York and graduated from NYU. For many years he worked as a publisher and editor at a book publishing company in New York and London. He is married with three children and has lived in Hoboken, New Jersey, since 1987. He is the author of the 2013 novel, The Mole, published by St. Martin's Press, as well as the novel, Lifestyle, reissued in 2016.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
July 10, 2013
Not only do you get a mystery/thriller, you also get a tour through most of the big historical events in the USA during the latter half of the 20th century. The Mole in question is a Canadian (who becomes a naturalized American early on) who happens to be connected in some way with all of these events. He is recruited by Canada while in Europe shortly after the end of the war but is not called upon to report anything to his mysterious handler. He is living in Washington and manages to parlay his job in the National Library to jobs on various political and military committees where he gets a lot of inside scoop. It doesn’t hurt that he has a photographic memory! His friendship with a very well connected Washington hostess helps him with society connections which are helpful to his job. I think anyone who is interested in recent history will like this.
June 9, 2016
This is an engrossing "mole's eye view" of Cold War politics and diplomacy from inside Washington, DC. Dozens of historical figures pass through the chapters, and there's a Zelig-like feel at times, with a high dose of very dry wit. I was sorry to see the book end.
Bates, the mole of the title, is a flawed human being, and he knows it. What I most appreciated was the author's ability to convey the fogginess of being a small cog in a big, invisible machine; another reason why the term 'mole' is so appropriate for this operative--he's underground, mostly blind, invisible. So, who is he, really? Maybe no one at all.
Bates, the mole of the title, is a flawed human being, and he knows it. What I most appreciated was the author's ability to convey the fogginess of being a small cog in a big, invisible machine; another reason why the term 'mole' is so appropriate for this operative--he's underground, mostly blind, invisible. So, who is he, really? Maybe no one at all.
October 19, 2013
What did I think of the intriguing "memoir" by a cold war spy scribbled by my husband?
I would do better to quote the following pre-publication remarks:
"Who better to trust for a through-the-looking-glass tour of Cold War Washington than a short, self-doubting Canadian with a photographic memory? A rich, buoyant ruse of a novel."
--- Stacy Schiff, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Cleopatra: A Life
I would do better to quote the following pre-publication remarks:
"Who better to trust for a through-the-looking-glass tour of Cold War Washington than a short, self-doubting Canadian with a photographic memory? A rich, buoyant ruse of a novel."
--- Stacy Schiff, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Cleopatra: A Life
February 1, 2014
(Originally posted to my blog: http://elizabethannsalem.wordpress.co...)
Peter Warner’s The Mole: The Cold War Memoir of Winston Bates, was a thoroughly enjoyable book, even though I must admit that it really did mess with my head. On the surface, it is the story of a somewhat hapless Canadian aspiring poet with a photographic memory, who stumbles into courier work for the CIA in post-WWII Paris. Bates is then recruited by Canadian intelligence to become a spy, and moves to Washington, D.C., where he works his way through the American intelligence community, working for various senators and, eventually, President Lyndon Johnson. Throughout the book, Bates ends up playing a major role (albeit unknown to history or even the major players) in such events as the Suez Crisis, the Bay of Pigs, Watergate, and, possibly, the Iran-Contra Affair.
Warner’s research into the history of the mid-20th century was impressive, and I loved his portrayals of Cold War Washington. There may have been too much detail here for someone not as into history as I am, but I feel this level of detail drew the reader further and further into Bates’ detail-obsessed mind. I admit that I found myself less interested in Bates’ Paris and Germany adventures (and could have done without the crazy Russian couple entirely), but felt that the time jumping aspect of the plot worked well. The minor characters also were compelling (although I never quite understood Bates’ romantic life), and wish I could have learned more about Mark, Bates’ long-time next door neighbor, since we didn’t see much of him after he grew up.
The mind bending aspect of the book started about halfway through, for me, as I found myself wondering if Bates was an unreliable narrator. Did his photographic memory lead him to see spies where there were none? Did he hallucinate his “recruitment”? Did he actually not affect anything, but only think that he did? (I went with this theory for a long time, but then there was that odd conversation with Oliver North at the end…)
Peter Warner successfully got me to question everything I thought I knew about his main character, and I absolutely love this book for that.
Source: My public library
Peter Warner’s The Mole: The Cold War Memoir of Winston Bates, was a thoroughly enjoyable book, even though I must admit that it really did mess with my head. On the surface, it is the story of a somewhat hapless Canadian aspiring poet with a photographic memory, who stumbles into courier work for the CIA in post-WWII Paris. Bates is then recruited by Canadian intelligence to become a spy, and moves to Washington, D.C., where he works his way through the American intelligence community, working for various senators and, eventually, President Lyndon Johnson. Throughout the book, Bates ends up playing a major role (albeit unknown to history or even the major players) in such events as the Suez Crisis, the Bay of Pigs, Watergate, and, possibly, the Iran-Contra Affair.
Warner’s research into the history of the mid-20th century was impressive, and I loved his portrayals of Cold War Washington. There may have been too much detail here for someone not as into history as I am, but I feel this level of detail drew the reader further and further into Bates’ detail-obsessed mind. I admit that I found myself less interested in Bates’ Paris and Germany adventures (and could have done without the crazy Russian couple entirely), but felt that the time jumping aspect of the plot worked well. The minor characters also were compelling (although I never quite understood Bates’ romantic life), and wish I could have learned more about Mark, Bates’ long-time next door neighbor, since we didn’t see much of him after he grew up.
The mind bending aspect of the book started about halfway through, for me, as I found myself wondering if Bates was an unreliable narrator. Did his photographic memory lead him to see spies where there were none? Did he hallucinate his “recruitment”? Did he actually not affect anything, but only think that he did? (I went with this theory for a long time, but then there was that odd conversation with Oliver North at the end…)
Peter Warner successfully got me to question everything I thought I knew about his main character, and I absolutely love this book for that.
Source: My public library
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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July 19, 2017At the end of this book, I couldn't help but wonder what this book was actually about. Winston seems to be this shallow, cynical, person who happens across hallmark 20th century moments in U.S. national security/foreign relations with Forest Gump like effortlessness. This one JV spy influenced everything from the Suez Crisis, to the Bay of Pigs, to Vietnam, to U-2 operations, to the Watergate break-in to finally the Iran-Contra affair. Seems a bit of a far stretch...
But as a satire I guess it was entertaining enough and the autobiographical format was interesting. In the end, i just can't tell you accurately what this book was about
But as a satire I guess it was entertaining enough and the autobiographical format was interesting. In the end, i just can't tell you accurately what this book was about
May 17, 2019
I loved it for the history - the main character was at the heart of some of the most significant events of the 20th century. But it was a slog to get through. An extremely slow burn til nearly the end.
March 20, 2019
I thought this was a good historical fiction.
January 18, 2014
Caveat, I don't like spy novels. "Bourne," bored me. "Day of the Jackal," didn't send me. And I LOATHE all things "Jack Ryan." If you prefer your protagonist more Smiley than Bond, you'll enjoy "The Mole."
From the opening chapter to the final line, Winston Bates takes hold of you. His touch is so light, you'll think you're following him, all the while he's guiding you through his solitary progress through Washington's corridors of self-important predators and pretenders. Analytical to a fault, as he's brutal in his assessment of the power elite and their minions as he is in his own failings and fears.
I had minor quibbles with some of the word economy and his use of "get it on," was completely out of place for the day/context. Other than that I wanted 200 more pages.
From the opening chapter to the final line, Winston Bates takes hold of you. His touch is so light, you'll think you're following him, all the while he's guiding you through his solitary progress through Washington's corridors of self-important predators and pretenders. Analytical to a fault, as he's brutal in his assessment of the power elite and their minions as he is in his own failings and fears.
I had minor quibbles with some of the word economy and his use of "get it on," was completely out of place for the day/context. Other than that I wanted 200 more pages.
March 15, 2014
Winston Bates - the reluctant mole, perennial hostage to fortune and consummate manipulator - takes us through the Cold War years and up to Watergate with a wealth of detail and a huge heaping mass of irony.
The premise of a short, nerdy Canadian with an eidetic memory and an unerring instinct for self-preservation being inadvertently responsible for many of the major failures of Washington policy is brilliant. Another reviewer asks "how much damage can be done by the wrong person in the right place at the right time?" The answer is a lot.
Great research, wonderful cameos by many, many historical figures, thought provoking and funny.
The premise of a short, nerdy Canadian with an eidetic memory and an unerring instinct for self-preservation being inadvertently responsible for many of the major failures of Washington policy is brilliant. Another reviewer asks "how much damage can be done by the wrong person in the right place at the right time?" The answer is a lot.
Great research, wonderful cameos by many, many historical figures, thought provoking and funny.
November 16, 2013
Complex and interesting but yet slightly slow paced. The timelines are a adventure or miss endeavor of the Washington and CIA machine.
The character Winston Bates was was crafted with a very real emotions and self doubt. Well rounded and I liked and hated him on several occasions. He is an accidental tourist and spy that tries to be more than he is while trying to find out who he is.
Not for everyone, unless you like the background gossip, lies, spying and deceit that goes behind passing bills in Congress that sometimes changes history, or makes it.
The character Winston Bates was was crafted with a very real emotions and self doubt. Well rounded and I liked and hated him on several occasions. He is an accidental tourist and spy that tries to be more than he is while trying to find out who he is.
Not for everyone, unless you like the background gossip, lies, spying and deceit that goes behind passing bills in Congress that sometimes changes history, or makes it.
July 13, 2013
Should be more clever and entertaining than it is.
September 21, 2013
Clever, intriguing, and steeped in the Cold War events of the postwar era.
November 17, 2013
A sly alternate history of Cold War Washington DC. Who knew that Suez, U@ and Bay of Pigs was all because of the machinations of a Canadian spy working in goverment.
April 16, 2014
Meh. Perhaps even beyond meh. Perhaps comedies of manners are lost on me?
March 28, 2014
Couldn't really like the main character. Besides him being extremely smart and being in the middle of all the action, he didn't seem to do anything except observe.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews