A New Collection of Three Complete Novels

by John le Carré

Three more great ones from this incomparable international bestseller who is regarded by many as the father of the spy novel. This hardcover trilogy features three of the masters most exciting and best-selling stories: The Russia House, The Secret Pilgrim. and A Perfect Spy. A perfect set-up for his millions of fans.

Genres: Fiction, Thriller, Espionage, Contemporary

807 pages, Hardcover

First published June 10, 1996

About the author

John le Carré, the pseudonym of David John Moore Cornwell (born 19 October 1931 in Poole, Dorset, England), was an English author of espionage novels. Le Carré had resided in St Buryan, Cornwall, Great Britain, for more than 40 years, where he owned a mile of cliff close to Land's End.

Reviews

[Kyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

That was my third reading. LeCarre, in my opinion, is the pre-eminent writer of fiction of my generation. Nobody constructs a more tantalisingly complex plot.

[Betta · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice three-shot that seemed to revolve around men whose characters rebel against what is required to be a "perfect spy." In each case the main character's progression leads him to an end that isn't necessarily fore-ordained , but it is very well set up in series of illustrative incidents, until all paths lead our protagonist to either his fall, his rebellion, or the end of his long search. It is clear that LeCarre had many bones to pick with the Secret Service. I enjoyed all three of these titles for different reasons. I had a bit of difficulty getting into the last, The Secret Pilgrim, until I realized it was essentially a series of tales, the only thread of which is Ned. It also features a frame of a reunion at which George Smiley is in attendance. Of the three, that is the one I would probably re-read, just to get a better handle on it.

[Hillel Damron · Rating 4 out of 5]

“A Perfect Spy: A Novel” is almost a perfect novel. I will get to the “almost” later, but as for the “perfect,” here are my reasons: While the novel’s main character is a British spy, though a double-spy would be a more accurate description, and while on a certain level the novel unfolds like a spy novel of the first degree, this novel is much more than that. It is, indeed, an autobiographical novel of the first order. And I don’t mean that just in the regular sense, where a writer writes--almost always--about what he knows and experienced, and then brings his imagination into it. What John le Carre had tried to do here, mostly successful, is to tell the true story of his extraordinary father, his peculiar, strange childhood and upbringing, and mash it up not only with his spy story, which rings true and very real to me, but tie it nicely also with a man who decides to leave everything behind and write his own life story. A novel within the novel, to an extent.
It all works out imaginatively, suspensefully, and at times hilariously. The “almost” I mentioned at the beginning comes from the sense that towards the end, not that unusual, even a master writer such as Mr. le Carre had problems finishing his book. More accurately, he tried too hard at the end to give us all the information and all the details of his hero’s life; a story we already understood, and were eagerly reading to learn its conclusion. It was even a bit boring towards the end, and because of that, the impact of the surprising, yet perfectly acceptable ending, was lacking a bit the needed emotional impact. I guess no editor had dared tell that to such a famous, established author, whom nonetheless I admire greatly.

[Lizzie Blueyondercouk · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Perfect Spy - John Le Carre
Onyl just started reading a little dated for our time in respect of characters, but very well written, not easy reading -

[Neil Aplin · Rating 3 out of 5]

To be honest, I have now audio-read several Carré books, and they all take the same form, amd have now merged into one. The style throughout is terse, with short sentences and with a knowing confidence reminiscent of public school and the establishment. Some of the references are familiar and therefore have some pleasure, whilst the humour also resonates which again makes the reading remind me of other times and places. But I wouldn't recommend audio-reading several at a time, it becomes too repetitive.