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Exposure
London, November, 1960: the Cold War is at its height. Spy fever fills the newspapers, and the political establishment knows how and where to bury its secrets.
When a highly sensitive file goes missing, Simon Callington is accused of passing information to the Soviets, and arrested.
His wife, Lily, suspects that his imprisonment is part of a cover-up, and that more powerful men than Simon will do anything to prevent their own downfall.
She knows that she too is in danger, and must fight to protect her children. But what she does not realise is that Simon has hidden vital truths about his past, and may be found guilty of another crime that carries with it an even greater penalty.
When a highly sensitive file goes missing, Simon Callington is accused of passing information to the Soviets, and arrested.
His wife, Lily, suspects that his imprisonment is part of a cover-up, and that more powerful men than Simon will do anything to prevent their own downfall.
She knows that she too is in danger, and must fight to protect her children. But what she does not realise is that Simon has hidden vital truths about his past, and may be found guilty of another crime that carries with it an even greater penalty.
400 pages, Hardcover
First published January 28, 2016
About the author
Helen Dunmore
123 books978 followersI was born in December 1952, in Yorkshire, the second of four children. My father was the eldest of twelve, and this extended family has no doubt had a strong influence on my life, as have my own children. In a large family you hear a great many stories. You also come to understand very early that stories hold quite different meanings for different listeners, and can be recast from many viewpoints.
Poetry was very important to me from childhood. I began by listening to and learning by heart all kinds of rhymes and hymns and ballads, and then went on to make up my own poems, using the forms I’d heard. Writing these down came a little later.
I studied English at the University of York, and after graduation taught English as a foreign language in Finland.
At around this time I began to write the poems which formed my first poetry collection, The Apple Fall, and to publish these in magazines. I also completed two novels; fortunately neither survives, and it was more than ten years before I wrote another novel.
During this time I published several collections of poems, and wrote some of the short stories which were later collected in Love of Fat Men. I began to travel a great deal within the UK and around the world, for poetry tours and writing residences. This experience of working in many different countries and cultures has been very important to my work. I reviewed poetry for Stand and Poetry Review and later for The Observer, and subsequently reviewed fiction for The Observer, The Times and The Guardian. My critical work includes introductions to the poems of Emily Brontë, the short stories of D H Lawrence and F Scott Fitzgerald, a study of Virginia Woolf’s relationships with women and Introductions to the Folio Society's edition of Anna Karenina and to the new Penguin Classics edition of Tolstoy's My Confession.
During the 1980s and early 1990s I taught poetry and creative writing, tutored residential writing courses for the Arvon Foundation and took part in the Poetry Society's Writer in Schools scheme, as well as giving readings and workshops in schools, hospitals, prisons and every other kind of place where a poem could conceivably be welcome. I also taught at the University of Glamorgan, the University of Bristol's Continuing Education Department and for the Open College of the Arts.
In the late 1980s I began to publish short stories, and these were the beginning of a breakthrough into fiction. What I had learned of prose technique through the short story gave me the impetus to start writing novels. My first novel for children was Going to Egypt, published in 1992, and my first novel for adults was Zennor in Darkness, published in 1993, which won the McKitterick Prize. This was also my first researched novel, set in the First World War and dealing with the period when D H Lawrence and his wife Frieda lived in Zennor in Cornwall, and came under suspicion as German spies.
My third novel, A Spell of Winter, won the inaugural Orange Prize for Fiction in 1996, and since then I have published a number of novels, short story collections and books for children. Full details of all these books are available on this website. The last of The Ingo Quartet, The Crossing of Ingo, was published in paperback in Spring 2009.
My seventh novel, The Siege (2001) was shortlisted both for the Whitbread Novel Award and the Orange Prize for Fiction. This was another researched novel, which grew from a lifelong love of Russian history, culture and literature. It is is set in Leningrad during the first year of the siege of the city by German forces, which lasted for 880 days from the fall of Mga on 30th August 1941. The Siege has been translated into Russian by Tatyana Averchina, and extracts have been broadcast on radio in St Petersburg. House of Orphans was published in 2006, and in 2008 Counting the Stars. Its central characters are the Roman poet Catullus, who lived during the last years of the Republic,
Poetry was very important to me from childhood. I began by listening to and learning by heart all kinds of rhymes and hymns and ballads, and then went on to make up my own poems, using the forms I’d heard. Writing these down came a little later.
I studied English at the University of York, and after graduation taught English as a foreign language in Finland.
At around this time I began to write the poems which formed my first poetry collection, The Apple Fall, and to publish these in magazines. I also completed two novels; fortunately neither survives, and it was more than ten years before I wrote another novel.
During this time I published several collections of poems, and wrote some of the short stories which were later collected in Love of Fat Men. I began to travel a great deal within the UK and around the world, for poetry tours and writing residences. This experience of working in many different countries and cultures has been very important to my work. I reviewed poetry for Stand and Poetry Review and later for The Observer, and subsequently reviewed fiction for The Observer, The Times and The Guardian. My critical work includes introductions to the poems of Emily Brontë, the short stories of D H Lawrence and F Scott Fitzgerald, a study of Virginia Woolf’s relationships with women and Introductions to the Folio Society's edition of Anna Karenina and to the new Penguin Classics edition of Tolstoy's My Confession.
During the 1980s and early 1990s I taught poetry and creative writing, tutored residential writing courses for the Arvon Foundation and took part in the Poetry Society's Writer in Schools scheme, as well as giving readings and workshops in schools, hospitals, prisons and every other kind of place where a poem could conceivably be welcome. I also taught at the University of Glamorgan, the University of Bristol's Continuing Education Department and for the Open College of the Arts.
In the late 1980s I began to publish short stories, and these were the beginning of a breakthrough into fiction. What I had learned of prose technique through the short story gave me the impetus to start writing novels. My first novel for children was Going to Egypt, published in 1992, and my first novel for adults was Zennor in Darkness, published in 1993, which won the McKitterick Prize. This was also my first researched novel, set in the First World War and dealing with the period when D H Lawrence and his wife Frieda lived in Zennor in Cornwall, and came under suspicion as German spies.
My third novel, A Spell of Winter, won the inaugural Orange Prize for Fiction in 1996, and since then I have published a number of novels, short story collections and books for children. Full details of all these books are available on this website. The last of The Ingo Quartet, The Crossing of Ingo, was published in paperback in Spring 2009.
My seventh novel, The Siege (2001) was shortlisted both for the Whitbread Novel Award and the Orange Prize for Fiction. This was another researched novel, which grew from a lifelong love of Russian history, culture and literature. It is is set in Leningrad during the first year of the siege of the city by German forces, which lasted for 880 days from the fall of Mga on 30th August 1941. The Siege has been translated into Russian by Tatyana Averchina, and extracts have been broadcast on radio in St Petersburg. House of Orphans was published in 2006, and in 2008 Counting the Stars. Its central characters are the Roman poet Catullus, who lived during the last years of the Republic,
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 713 reviews
November 22, 2015
Not my usual ' breakneck speed ' type of thriller, but very good nonetheless. It was quite subtle, but that air of menace was there throughout. It's primarily a spy story set in 1960's London. Simon is a rather unambitious civil servant working at The Admiralty. He lives an unremarkable life with his wife Lily, and their three children. When a Top Secret file goes missing, Simon is arrested and charged with espionage. Lily and the children feature most prominently as they try to cope with this nightmare, and their daily lives make for such an interesting read, with a real sense of time and place. Giles Holloway ( who had previously had a sexual relationship with Simon ) and the sinister Julian Clowdes , ramp up the fear factor for this little family. There was some excellent characterisation - you get to know these people so well, it's as if you know them personally. I really enjoyed this novel and would definitely recommend it.
* Thank you to Netgalley and Random House UK, Cornerstone for my ARC*
* Thank you to Netgalley and Random House UK, Cornerstone for my ARC*
October 10, 2021
“A page turner…as much a surprising love story as it is a tale of spies.” – New York Times Book Review
That is how this one advertises on its cover – bloody beautiful cover, isn’t it? Sure enough, this is a bloody page turner and, yes, there’s a deliberate British tone here; I contracted it while reading this little gem and am in no hurry to shake off!
Of course the caption says it’s as much a love story as it is a tale of espionage but that should be taken with a pinch of salt. The spy aspect is there alright, but it’s more of a premise on which an emotionally rich story of human drama is based upon than a spy story in itself. Two men and a woman are the three main characters and they are connected with more intricate ties than they themselves are aware of – or willing to admit. One of them is “the sum of the years” he has spent in a past life with one of the other two but he’s also the sum of the years he’s spending with the other one in the novel’s Cold War present of 1960s London, living a completely new life.
What happens when History (with a capital H), politics and “the gears of Law” take the upper hand and overturn the seemingly ordinary lives of (seemingly) unsuspecting people? What happens when former lives come barging in and threaten the hard-earned safety of the present? That’s the question that lies at the heart of the story.
This is a book about secrets and the guilt that goes with them. About the devastation of exposure and the courage of forgiveness. About survival and the price of “doing whatever one wants” even once in a lifetime. I’m intentionally not spilling the beans here (goodness me, in such an English mood today…) because I wouldn’t want to ruin the suspense and raw feeling this gripping story carries plenty of. I will only say that Dunmore was a bloody good story teller and a marvellous creator of complex characters. It’s a pity that this was her next to last book; she prematurely passed away at 64 a few years ago, when she was obviously at the top of her game.
A thought related to this last remark: One of the protagonists spends the better part of the book in a hospital bed dying of cancer. Dunmore herself had been diagnosed with the disease at about the same time, I suppose, she was writing the novel. There are several unflinchingly poignant passages regarding death and what it feels like dying a foretold one and I couldn’t help thinking how heart wrenching it must have been for her to write them. For me this book was gloriously cathartic in its ending and I hope writing it had the same effect on its author. This article of hers in The Guardian suggests that much:
https://www.theguardian.com/books/201...
I will certainly look for more of her work, especially since there’s a lot of praise for it here on GR by friends and reviewers whose opinions I trust.
That is how this one advertises on its cover – bloody beautiful cover, isn’t it? Sure enough, this is a bloody page turner and, yes, there’s a deliberate British tone here; I contracted it while reading this little gem and am in no hurry to shake off!
Of course the caption says it’s as much a love story as it is a tale of espionage but that should be taken with a pinch of salt. The spy aspect is there alright, but it’s more of a premise on which an emotionally rich story of human drama is based upon than a spy story in itself. Two men and a woman are the three main characters and they are connected with more intricate ties than they themselves are aware of – or willing to admit. One of them is “the sum of the years” he has spent in a past life with one of the other two but he’s also the sum of the years he’s spending with the other one in the novel’s Cold War present of 1960s London, living a completely new life.
What happens when History (with a capital H), politics and “the gears of Law” take the upper hand and overturn the seemingly ordinary lives of (seemingly) unsuspecting people? What happens when former lives come barging in and threaten the hard-earned safety of the present? That’s the question that lies at the heart of the story.
This is a book about secrets and the guilt that goes with them. About the devastation of exposure and the courage of forgiveness. About survival and the price of “doing whatever one wants” even once in a lifetime. I’m intentionally not spilling the beans here (goodness me, in such an English mood today…) because I wouldn’t want to ruin the suspense and raw feeling this gripping story carries plenty of. I will only say that Dunmore was a bloody good story teller and a marvellous creator of complex characters. It’s a pity that this was her next to last book; she prematurely passed away at 64 a few years ago, when she was obviously at the top of her game.
A thought related to this last remark: One of the protagonists spends the better part of the book in a hospital bed dying of cancer. Dunmore herself had been diagnosed with the disease at about the same time, I suppose, she was writing the novel. There are several unflinchingly poignant passages regarding death and what it feels like dying a foretold one and I couldn’t help thinking how heart wrenching it must have been for her to write them. For me this book was gloriously cathartic in its ending and I hope writing it had the same effect on its author. This article of hers in The Guardian suggests that much:
https://www.theguardian.com/books/201...
I will certainly look for more of her work, especially since there’s a lot of praise for it here on GR by friends and reviewers whose opinions I trust.
October 7, 2015
4 high stars. Helen Dunmore gets into her characters' heads like very few other writers. She did it in The Siege and The Betrayal, which I had previously read. And she does it in Exposure with simple, intense and straightforward prose. Exposure is not a spy novel -- it would be foolish to read it hoping to find the conventions of that genre. Rather, it is a period piece and a character study. It's hard to say anything without revealing too much. The story is set in 1960s England during the Cold War. Simon and Lily are married with three children. Simon works for the admiralty, where he works with Giles. It turns out that Giles is a spy, and Simon inadvertently gets entangled in Giles' world, which has a devastating effect on Simon, Lily and the children. Beyond the set up, not much happens until a very intense ending. Most of the book is taken up with a revolving look at the situation from the main characters' different points of view -- their intertwined pasts adding a layer of complication. But this is precisely what carries the book. Dunmore has created complex and vivid characters that defy convention, and she really got me into their heads. I felt their fear, their hopes, their frustrations, and their nuanced changing emotions. I also loved the ending. It was morally fraught and left a lot of complicated unresolved emotions on the table, but it worked perfectly for me. I will definitely look for Dunmore's next book. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an opportunity to read an advance copy.
January 4, 2016
If you enjoy the intrigue of a good spy story but you've struggled with John le Carre’s complex storylines then this might just be your ideal book.
It's London in 1960 and the Cold War is in full flow. Admiralty employee and family man Simon Callington is asked to carry out a favour for an old friend, Giles. Having picked up a file from his friend’s home he’s immediately regretting having taken this action, but is it already too late? Simon’s job was secured for him by the aforementioned friend. He is not overly ambitious: he’s a middle ranking official who is more focused on his family - wife Lily and his three children - and their life in Muswell Hill. But he’s now aware that this one innocent misstep may cost him everything.
As the sorry unfolds we learn more of Simon’s past. Growing up with bullying brothers, a stern mother and an uncaring father has created a distance between him and his family. He met Giles at Cambridge University, where they were close, but this relationship too has cooled. In fact, what complexities there are in this novel stem from the relationships Simon has with the people in his life. It is essentially a simply plotted tale, but don't be kidded by that - in its own way it’s as gripping a story as I've read in a long time.
It really is beautifully written, with some memorably descriptive phrases. The period and locations are brought to life effectively and all of the characters are very well drawn – Lily in particular. And the tension is sustained from the first few pages right through to the pulsating, emotion pulling end. It’s a quality novel and a genuine page turner. I’m already eagerly searching out more books from this author.
My thanks to Random House and NetGalley for supplying an early copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
It's London in 1960 and the Cold War is in full flow. Admiralty employee and family man Simon Callington is asked to carry out a favour for an old friend, Giles. Having picked up a file from his friend’s home he’s immediately regretting having taken this action, but is it already too late? Simon’s job was secured for him by the aforementioned friend. He is not overly ambitious: he’s a middle ranking official who is more focused on his family - wife Lily and his three children - and their life in Muswell Hill. But he’s now aware that this one innocent misstep may cost him everything.
As the sorry unfolds we learn more of Simon’s past. Growing up with bullying brothers, a stern mother and an uncaring father has created a distance between him and his family. He met Giles at Cambridge University, where they were close, but this relationship too has cooled. In fact, what complexities there are in this novel stem from the relationships Simon has with the people in his life. It is essentially a simply plotted tale, but don't be kidded by that - in its own way it’s as gripping a story as I've read in a long time.
It really is beautifully written, with some memorably descriptive phrases. The period and locations are brought to life effectively and all of the characters are very well drawn – Lily in particular. And the tension is sustained from the first few pages right through to the pulsating, emotion pulling end. It’s a quality novel and a genuine page turner. I’m already eagerly searching out more books from this author.
My thanks to Random House and NetGalley for supplying an early copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
October 7, 2015
Cold War era, Russian spies and paranoia, such were the times. I was so young then but remember duck and cover, the fear of my parents over the threat of a nuclear war. Once again Dunmore has done what she does best, infuse a period of history with characters caught up in something bigger than themselves. How those tainted with the word spy were at risk and so were their families. The atmosphere in this book really took me back it was done so effectively.
So it happens with Simon, a young man who has withheld a big secret from his wife, of the personal kind, not professional. One mistake will change his life, his wife Lily whom has herself escaped from Nazi Germany with her mother, and their three children. Events will quickly get out of control and sweep this family into unknown territory. Lily though, I admired, so much resilience, protectiveness towards her husband and children, an amazingly strong woman. A really great character. Loved the children too, so young but so willing to help their mother in whatever way they could, even though their whole lives had changed. Really wished this family well.
So in loose terms this was a spy thriller, there was definitely tension, but it was also an amazing period drama, a character study. When all seems lost will you rise to the challenge or fold? Interesting seeing who does what in this one. Another fantastic book by Dunmore.
So it happens with Simon, a young man who has withheld a big secret from his wife, of the personal kind, not professional. One mistake will change his life, his wife Lily whom has herself escaped from Nazi Germany with her mother, and their three children. Events will quickly get out of control and sweep this family into unknown territory. Lily though, I admired, so much resilience, protectiveness towards her husband and children, an amazingly strong woman. A really great character. Loved the children too, so young but so willing to help their mother in whatever way they could, even though their whole lives had changed. Really wished this family well.
So in loose terms this was a spy thriller, there was definitely tension, but it was also an amazing period drama, a character study. When all seems lost will you rise to the challenge or fold? Interesting seeing who does what in this one. Another fantastic book by Dunmore.
January 22, 2019
Helen Dunmore certainly knows how to write historical fiction. This book, set in an England when all Russians were suspected spies, everyone burned coal in open fireplaces, trains gushed forth smoke and you could actually buy things with a few pennies, has the exact atmosphere of the day.
It is hard to describe Exposure as a thriller. It is about spies but not much and it is certainly a slow burner. Mostly it tells of families and friends and the awful situations quite innocent people can find themselves in when things go wrong. A lot of the story hinges on Lily who is a wife and mother and incidentally a German Jew who had to flee Nazi Germany as a child. She is the strongest character in the whole book as she fights for her husband, her children and eventually her life.
I had moments when I felt that the book was not going anywhere fast. I had moments when I wanted to give certain characters a good hard smack. And then I had many moments when I enjoyed the book very much. The ending is brilliant - that was a moment when I teared up. Very definitely worth reading and I must now try Dunmore's most well known book The Siege
It is hard to describe Exposure as a thriller. It is about spies but not much and it is certainly a slow burner. Mostly it tells of families and friends and the awful situations quite innocent people can find themselves in when things go wrong. A lot of the story hinges on Lily who is a wife and mother and incidentally a German Jew who had to flee Nazi Germany as a child. She is the strongest character in the whole book as she fights for her husband, her children and eventually her life.
I had moments when I felt that the book was not going anywhere fast. I had moments when I wanted to give certain characters a good hard smack. And then I had many moments when I enjoyed the book very much. The ending is brilliant - that was a moment when I teared up. Very definitely worth reading and I must now try Dunmore's most well known book The Siege
October 6, 2015
I have loved Helen Dunmore’s novels for many years and so was delighted to have the opportunity to review her latest work, “Exposure.” It is November, 1960, and London is in the grip of the Cold War and spy fever. Lily Callington lives with her husband, Simon, in Muswell Hill. He is a rather unambitious civil servant at the Admiralty and Lily teaches part time and looks after their children; Paul, Sally and Bridget. The couple are happy with their peaceful life. Simon enjoys going train spotting with his son, while Lily enjoys evenings in listening to the latest play on the radio. However, their rather mundane existence is soon to come to an end when the telephone rings one evening…
This novel involves a missing Top Secret file, for which Simon is blamed and charged with espionage. Do not imagine that this is your traditional spy novel though, for Dunmore is always more interested in the personal, rather than in action, and she has created a wonderful set of characters here. Simon is a man who has always felt incomplete before he had his family – never happy with his bullish, bullying brothers or his wealthy, but unsympathetic, parents - in some ways he did remind me of a character in an Eric Ambler novel; the ‘everyman’ who stumbles into a nightmare.
Lily is possibly one of my favourite fictional characters of all time. Abandoned by her father, her Jewish mother brought her to safety in England before the war. She has been taught by her mother to fit in at all costs, but now her mere foreignness makes her suspect. All too aware of how life can suddenly change, Lily is determined to protect her children at all costs. The children themselves, along with other peripheral characters, really bring depth to the storyline. I really enjoyed the way the children tried their best to understand events and I also thought the invention of Giles Holloway, the rather seedy spy, and the sinister Julian Clowde; men who feel that their background and wealth entitle them to do exactly as they wish, were fantastically written. This novel is one of a mere handful that has made me cry and I cannot recommend it highly enough.
This novel involves a missing Top Secret file, for which Simon is blamed and charged with espionage. Do not imagine that this is your traditional spy novel though, for Dunmore is always more interested in the personal, rather than in action, and she has created a wonderful set of characters here. Simon is a man who has always felt incomplete before he had his family – never happy with his bullish, bullying brothers or his wealthy, but unsympathetic, parents - in some ways he did remind me of a character in an Eric Ambler novel; the ‘everyman’ who stumbles into a nightmare.
Lily is possibly one of my favourite fictional characters of all time. Abandoned by her father, her Jewish mother brought her to safety in England before the war. She has been taught by her mother to fit in at all costs, but now her mere foreignness makes her suspect. All too aware of how life can suddenly change, Lily is determined to protect her children at all costs. The children themselves, along with other peripheral characters, really bring depth to the storyline. I really enjoyed the way the children tried their best to understand events and I also thought the invention of Giles Holloway, the rather seedy spy, and the sinister Julian Clowde; men who feel that their background and wealth entitle them to do exactly as they wish, were fantastically written. This novel is one of a mere handful that has made me cry and I cannot recommend it highly enough.
December 31, 2015
I couldn’t have wished for a better start to my reading year than this captivating story of cover ups and double dealings set in the world of political espionage in 1960. I cannot quite believe I have just typed that because I don’t actually like spy stories but this read is not so much to do with the secrets that are being handed over, as the people caught up in the drama when things go wrong. In fact you don’t even find out what the secrets are because they are not important to the story.
It is the story mainly of Lily whose husband Simon finds himself accused of espionage and how she has to carry on living and looking after their children with the shadow of the accusations hanging over them. How will she explain things to the children and how will the controversy that suddenly surrounds them affect them?
The story itself is brilliantly set up by the author, and after what was a slow start for me, it began to draw me in and grab my attention. Once you get past the first few chapters, where the characters are introduced and you start getting to know them, the pace really does seem to pick up.
It is very cleverly plotted and when you get to the end of it you will realise that she hasn’t wasted a single strand of the story, everything is in there for a reason, even the trains. There is a lot of talk about trains in the book and when you get to a certain point of the read the penny will drop and you will just smile knowingly to yourself. It was at that point that I fell totally in love with the story as that particular part was just sheer genius. Throughout the read there is always a sense of underlying danger and a very tense atmosphere which all builds up to a very dramatic and quite scary climax.
A fabulous read. Many thanks to the publishers via Netgalley for the review copy.
It is the story mainly of Lily whose husband Simon finds himself accused of espionage and how she has to carry on living and looking after their children with the shadow of the accusations hanging over them. How will she explain things to the children and how will the controversy that suddenly surrounds them affect them?
The story itself is brilliantly set up by the author, and after what was a slow start for me, it began to draw me in and grab my attention. Once you get past the first few chapters, where the characters are introduced and you start getting to know them, the pace really does seem to pick up.
It is very cleverly plotted and when you get to the end of it you will realise that she hasn’t wasted a single strand of the story, everything is in there for a reason, even the trains. There is a lot of talk about trains in the book and when you get to a certain point of the read the penny will drop and you will just smile knowingly to yourself. It was at that point that I fell totally in love with the story as that particular part was just sheer genius. Throughout the read there is always a sense of underlying danger and a very tense atmosphere which all builds up to a very dramatic and quite scary climax.
A fabulous read. Many thanks to the publishers via Netgalley for the review copy.
October 14, 2016
A slow paced suspense with espionage and the exploration of what one is prepared to do for love. On the whole it was an ok read for me with elements I found intriguing. Character driven and very well written but I didn't always feel like the narrative carried the story arc forward and therefore it did not always greatly hold my attention.
January 30, 2019
Exposure is the first book I have read by Helen Dunmore, an author I was keen to sample having heard good things about her. This book lived up to my expectations.
The plot is set in 1960, at the height of the Cold War, and revolves around a missing file and an accusation of spying. The plot is not what drives the novel though, it is merely a device for exploring identity and secrets, and which lays bare the perspectives, backstories and psychology of a range of different characters.
Exposure is an absorbing novel and a powerful evocation of the era. One character appears to be partly based on Guy Burgess another hints at Kim Philby. However, whilst the novel builds to an exciting conclusion, it says more about people's relationships: parents and children, husbands and wives, lovers and their partners, the extent of friendship and loyalty etc. than it does about espionage and the Cold War.
I look forward to reading more of Helen Dunmore's work.
4/5
Exposure (2016) by Helen Dunmore
The plot is set in 1960, at the height of the Cold War, and revolves around a missing file and an accusation of spying. The plot is not what drives the novel though, it is merely a device for exploring identity and secrets, and which lays bare the perspectives, backstories and psychology of a range of different characters.
Exposure is an absorbing novel and a powerful evocation of the era. One character appears to be partly based on Guy Burgess another hints at Kim Philby. However, whilst the novel builds to an exciting conclusion, it says more about people's relationships: parents and children, husbands and wives, lovers and their partners, the extent of friendship and loyalty etc. than it does about espionage and the Cold War.
I look forward to reading more of Helen Dunmore's work.
4/5
Exposure (2016) by Helen Dunmore
November 23, 2015
I've read books by Helen Dunmore in the past and always been impressed by the quality of the writing. The start of this book exhibits the same skill. It has well crafted and evocative writing giving a feel of the time and place; London in the 1960s mainly.
This is the story of Simon, Giles and Lily (or maybe Lili). The writing creates the feel of an earlier time with concerns about fairly mundane day to day life coupled with the Cold War and national security. I'd rather not give away too much about the story, that is for the reader to discover. However I felt it had a grey normality when life is anything but normal and the story gradually gripped me. The tempo and narrative style of this author is not action packed; rather it is more understated and atmospheric with a great underlying tension.
In part this concerns the consequences of old friendships and the ebb and flow of lives made less ordinary by chance and history. I do have a minor niggle with this book close to the ending however it certainly didn't spoil it for me. The writing is a real gem; it is simple but so effective and evocative. It creates a tale that at times extremely powerful in a very understated (& "British") way. I thoroughly enjoyed it and will certainly continue to read Helen Dunmore's work in the future. 4.5/5
Note - I received an advance digital copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair review
This is the story of Simon, Giles and Lily (or maybe Lili). The writing creates the feel of an earlier time with concerns about fairly mundane day to day life coupled with the Cold War and national security. I'd rather not give away too much about the story, that is for the reader to discover. However I felt it had a grey normality when life is anything but normal and the story gradually gripped me. The tempo and narrative style of this author is not action packed; rather it is more understated and atmospheric with a great underlying tension.
In part this concerns the consequences of old friendships and the ebb and flow of lives made less ordinary by chance and history. I do have a minor niggle with this book close to the ending however it certainly didn't spoil it for me. The writing is a real gem; it is simple but so effective and evocative. It creates a tale that at times extremely powerful in a very understated (& "British") way. I thoroughly enjoyed it and will certainly continue to read Helen Dunmore's work in the future. 4.5/5
Note - I received an advance digital copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair review
June 27, 2020
This isn’t the most thrilling spy novel you’ll ever read. Instead, it simmers away steadily. The spy story itself is secondary to the focus on the effects the actions of others have on Simon Callington and his family. It’s set in the Cold War era. Simon, who works in the Admiralty in a minor position, is married to Lily who came to England as a child of Jewish lineage fleeing from Nazi Germany with her mother. Simon finds himself unwittingly caught up in espionage with devastating consequences for himself and for Lily and their three children.
I enjoy Dunmore’s style of writing and I was interested enough in the characters to read through to the end. I wasn’t convinced by certain events, however. It’s an enjoyable read, if not exciting. I found the final outcome satisfying and the last paragraph very moving.
I enjoy Dunmore’s style of writing and I was interested enough in the characters to read through to the end. I wasn’t convinced by certain events, however. It’s an enjoyable read, if not exciting. I found the final outcome satisfying and the last paragraph very moving.
April 22, 2016
I’ve been a fan of Helen Dunmore ever since I read “The Siege” many years ago, still one of my favorite historical fiction novels.
Her great strength is the ability to create fully dimensional characters and build the plot around them. In “Exposure” the main characters are Simon and Lily Carrington who live in North London. They are at first glimpse a “typical” middle class family. She is a teacher and he works in “The Admiralty” in what appears to be a fairly mid-level position. Everything changes the night that an old friend of Simon’s, “Giles”, who works at the Admiralty in a high security level job calls him.. He has had an accident at home and needs Simon to retrieve a file from him and deliver it back to the office before it’s noticed to be missing.
It’s at this point that things go awry. Gile’s superior, Julian Clowdes, seizes on an opportunity to use Simon as I would describe “the fall guy” and he is accused of espionage and imprisoned.
Lily is left to devise a way to care for their three children and get them out of the limelight of the journalists who are plaguing their lives. Even when she thinks that she has succeeded, it seems that those in power know her hiding plan.
The story actually moved quite slowly, particularly the narrations from Giles’s bedside in the hospital. I would have preferred a little more action to add to the suspense.
We are told quite early on what Simon’s secret is which is what is being held over his head in exchange for pleading guilty to espionage. That took a lot of the interest and excitement out of the book. Thankfully, we are rewarded by an unexpected and intense ending.
This was really more like a 3 and ½ read for me, partly because I really didn’t like any of the characters very much, although Lily would definitely be my favorite. She is a Jewish immigrant and because of her past experiences, has a quick response and insight into what is going on when Simon is arrested.
I was given an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review
Her great strength is the ability to create fully dimensional characters and build the plot around them. In “Exposure” the main characters are Simon and Lily Carrington who live in North London. They are at first glimpse a “typical” middle class family. She is a teacher and he works in “The Admiralty” in what appears to be a fairly mid-level position. Everything changes the night that an old friend of Simon’s, “Giles”, who works at the Admiralty in a high security level job calls him.. He has had an accident at home and needs Simon to retrieve a file from him and deliver it back to the office before it’s noticed to be missing.
It’s at this point that things go awry. Gile’s superior, Julian Clowdes, seizes on an opportunity to use Simon as I would describe “the fall guy” and he is accused of espionage and imprisoned.
Lily is left to devise a way to care for their three children and get them out of the limelight of the journalists who are plaguing their lives. Even when she thinks that she has succeeded, it seems that those in power know her hiding plan.
The story actually moved quite slowly, particularly the narrations from Giles’s bedside in the hospital. I would have preferred a little more action to add to the suspense.
We are told quite early on what Simon’s secret is which is what is being held over his head in exchange for pleading guilty to espionage. That took a lot of the interest and excitement out of the book. Thankfully, we are rewarded by an unexpected and intense ending.
This was really more like a 3 and ½ read for me, partly because I really didn’t like any of the characters very much, although Lily would definitely be my favorite. She is a Jewish immigrant and because of her past experiences, has a quick response and insight into what is going on when Simon is arrested.
I was given an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review
December 12, 2019
I absolutely loved this one. Remarkable writing, a thoroughly gripping plot, fantastic characters and a wonderful exploration of love (and spies). A fantastic read.
June 22, 2016
The Home Front in the Cold War
Many of the notorious British spies unmasked during the Cold War (Burgess, Maclean, Philby, Blunt) were recruited at Cambridge University in the 1930s. Many (but by no means all) of the spies were also gay men at a time when homosexual acts were illegal in Britain; they were thus already accustomed to a life of deception, while their sexuality was a lever that could be used against them. Helen Dunmore's novel makes reference to real people and events, setting it firmly in the late fifties and early sixties; her spy Giles Holloway, a civil servant in the Admiralty, is fictional, but he follows a similar pattern.
Dunmore's novel is not primarily about Giles, however, but a younger man, Simon Callington. They too had met at Cambridge. Simon, the youngest son of a landowning family, has suffered badly at the hands of bullying brothers and dismissive parents. So when he meets Giles, an older and more glamorous man, he feels it as a rebirth. Time has now passed, however. Simon also works at the Admiralty, in a job that Giles found for him, but it is a junior position and he sees little of his former mentor. Meanwhile, he has met and married a German Jewish refugee named Lily, and is the happy father of a boy and two girls, living in an old house in Muswell Hill. Nonetheless, when Giles has an accident and is rushed to hospital, Simon cannot refuse his telephoned request to remove some materials from his apartment and return them to the Admiralty. Except that, when he discovers what those materials are, he realizes he has got himself in deeper than he can control….
For the first sixty pages or so, Exposure reads like a novel by Ian McEwan, especially in the way that the course of people's lives can be completely altered by one small accident. But after that, she begins to go her own way, and you remember that Dunmore is a female novelist, not a male one. For although she has just enough of the conventional thriller to depict the threat gathering around Simon, her main focus is on what becomes of his family. Primarily his wife, Lily, who reveals surprising reserves of strength as she does what needs to be done to protect Simon and hold her family together. The two older children, Paul and Sally, trying to protect their baby sister Bridget. Lilly's neighbors and colleagues at work (she teaches French), a few of whom stick by her as most do not. The scrupulous politeness of the elderly widower who gives Lily a job. And Simon himself, reeling between hope, apathy, and despair.
Perhaps because I am a male reader, more stereotypical than I would like to admit, I did find the middle part of this novel a little slow-moving, but it was clearly written by someone with a first-hand understanding of British life at the period (which is also that of my own youth). And Dunmore, as we have come to expect from novels like The Siege, handles her plot elements with great skill, bringing everything together into an exciting climax and appropriate resolution.
======
Reading other reviews, I now realize that Dunmore is paying homage to Edith Nesbit's 1906 classic, The Railway Children. I have now read and reviewed it, and discovered that indeed Dunmore has taken the entire narrative frame from Nesbit, though shifting her focus to the causes of the father's arrest. I also discovered that, so far from being merely an interesting footnote to this recent book, Nesbit's classic remains a masterpiece, as enjoyable now as it surely was 110 years ago.
Many of the notorious British spies unmasked during the Cold War (Burgess, Maclean, Philby, Blunt) were recruited at Cambridge University in the 1930s. Many (but by no means all) of the spies were also gay men at a time when homosexual acts were illegal in Britain; they were thus already accustomed to a life of deception, while their sexuality was a lever that could be used against them. Helen Dunmore's novel makes reference to real people and events, setting it firmly in the late fifties and early sixties; her spy Giles Holloway, a civil servant in the Admiralty, is fictional, but he follows a similar pattern.
Dunmore's novel is not primarily about Giles, however, but a younger man, Simon Callington. They too had met at Cambridge. Simon, the youngest son of a landowning family, has suffered badly at the hands of bullying brothers and dismissive parents. So when he meets Giles, an older and more glamorous man, he feels it as a rebirth. Time has now passed, however. Simon also works at the Admiralty, in a job that Giles found for him, but it is a junior position and he sees little of his former mentor. Meanwhile, he has met and married a German Jewish refugee named Lily, and is the happy father of a boy and two girls, living in an old house in Muswell Hill. Nonetheless, when Giles has an accident and is rushed to hospital, Simon cannot refuse his telephoned request to remove some materials from his apartment and return them to the Admiralty. Except that, when he discovers what those materials are, he realizes he has got himself in deeper than he can control….
For the first sixty pages or so, Exposure reads like a novel by Ian McEwan, especially in the way that the course of people's lives can be completely altered by one small accident. But after that, she begins to go her own way, and you remember that Dunmore is a female novelist, not a male one. For although she has just enough of the conventional thriller to depict the threat gathering around Simon, her main focus is on what becomes of his family. Primarily his wife, Lily, who reveals surprising reserves of strength as she does what needs to be done to protect Simon and hold her family together. The two older children, Paul and Sally, trying to protect their baby sister Bridget. Lilly's neighbors and colleagues at work (she teaches French), a few of whom stick by her as most do not. The scrupulous politeness of the elderly widower who gives Lily a job. And Simon himself, reeling between hope, apathy, and despair.
Perhaps because I am a male reader, more stereotypical than I would like to admit, I did find the middle part of this novel a little slow-moving, but it was clearly written by someone with a first-hand understanding of British life at the period (which is also that of my own youth). And Dunmore, as we have come to expect from novels like The Siege, handles her plot elements with great skill, bringing everything together into an exciting climax and appropriate resolution.
======
Reading other reviews, I now realize that Dunmore is paying homage to Edith Nesbit's 1906 classic, The Railway Children. I have now read and reviewed it, and discovered that indeed Dunmore has taken the entire narrative frame from Nesbit, though shifting her focus to the causes of the father's arrest. I also discovered that, so far from being merely an interesting footnote to this recent book, Nesbit's classic remains a masterpiece, as enjoyable now as it surely was 110 years ago.
December 7, 2017
I was expecting this to be a spy thriller, which it isn’t, and so I found it very slow paced for the first 80 or so pages. Then however I became drawn into the characters’ lives and emotions and I was thoroughly engaged from about half-way through.
This novel is about relationships: parent-child, husband-wife, lovers, friends. It is set in 1960 and the ‘feel’ of the era seems exactly right.
This novel is about relationships: parent-child, husband-wife, lovers, friends. It is set in 1960 and the ‘feel’ of the era seems exactly right.
November 17, 2015
Another great novel from Helen Dunmore.
Exposure is set at the heart of the Cold War in November, 1960. Simon and Lily Carrington live in North London. Simon works at the Admiralty, keeps his head down and has a relatively ordinary life. However, this is turned upside down when he is accused of espionage.
As with any Dunmore novel this is more about the people than the action and personal secrets are revealed as Lily and Simon’s life descends into a nightmare.
There’s some great characterisation here especially around Lily who emigrated to Britain as a Jewish refugee just before the start of World War 2. In addition the sinister and menacing pair of Giles Holloway and Julian Clowdes add a gripping layer of psychological drama to the whole proceedings.
The Giles Holloway character appears loosely based on Guy Burgess, one of the Cambridge 5 and Julian Clowdes has echoes of Kim Philby too.
An excellent gripping novel with great attention to period detail too.
I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Exposure is set at the heart of the Cold War in November, 1960. Simon and Lily Carrington live in North London. Simon works at the Admiralty, keeps his head down and has a relatively ordinary life. However, this is turned upside down when he is accused of espionage.
As with any Dunmore novel this is more about the people than the action and personal secrets are revealed as Lily and Simon’s life descends into a nightmare.
There’s some great characterisation here especially around Lily who emigrated to Britain as a Jewish refugee just before the start of World War 2. In addition the sinister and menacing pair of Giles Holloway and Julian Clowdes add a gripping layer of psychological drama to the whole proceedings.
The Giles Holloway character appears loosely based on Guy Burgess, one of the Cambridge 5 and Julian Clowdes has echoes of Kim Philby too.
An excellent gripping novel with great attention to period detail too.
I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
May 1, 2016
This is a book about secrets and lies and, ultimately, forgiveness. It is a book that is raw with fear and it vibrates with Lily's overwhelming need to protect her children and keep them safe from harm. Exposure falls within the spy novel genre but this book is not for those who like their action fast and furious. Instead, Dunmore takes her reader deep inside her characters and lays bare their innermost thoughts and fears. I loved being inside 11-year-old Paul's head as he sat his trial eleven-plus and felt his horror and frustration when he realised he had missed a question. Oh, I have been there, and also fought to fight back the tears as the realisation hit me. This is a post-war Britain of fogs, spitting gas fires, dirty coal, the twin-tub, clothes-mangling washing machine, weak yellow light-bulbs, Birds Eye custard powder and endless jars of plum jam. And there is a very sinister plot that builds slowly, with wonderful tension and kept me listening until late at night.
I really enjoyed this, and I will look forward to reading more of Helen Dunmore's elegant prose.
I really enjoyed this, and I will look forward to reading more of Helen Dunmore's elegant prose.
December 15, 2015
This has been my first Helen Dunmore novel.
At the centre of the story are the Callingtons, Simon and his German-born, Jewish wife, Lily and their three children. Simon works for the Admiralty. Lily works as a part-time teacher.
Simon gets into trouble and is accused of espionage, all this mess self-induced after retrieving a file from Giles' house, an old friend and colleague.
As Simon's predicament makes the news, Lily and the kids have to deal with the aftermath. Not an easy situation to cope with.
Will Simon be punished for something he didn't do? Conspiracy and manipulation are strong forces that work to put Simon away and cover the real guilty parts. The fact that Simon has a big secret that he wants to be kept from Lily and the kids makes things even more complicated.
Dunmore is a very clever writer who has weaved a compelling story of espionage in 1960s UK. But Exposure is so much more than that. To a great extent, Exposure is a character study of people facing unusual and unexpected situations. The espionage aspects were accessible as they weren't too crazy messy.
3.5 stars
Cover: 4 stars
At the centre of the story are the Callingtons, Simon and his German-born, Jewish wife, Lily and their three children. Simon works for the Admiralty. Lily works as a part-time teacher.
Simon gets into trouble and is accused of espionage, all this mess self-induced after retrieving a file from Giles' house, an old friend and colleague.
As Simon's predicament makes the news, Lily and the kids have to deal with the aftermath. Not an easy situation to cope with.
Will Simon be punished for something he didn't do? Conspiracy and manipulation are strong forces that work to put Simon away and cover the real guilty parts. The fact that Simon has a big secret that he wants to be kept from Lily and the kids makes things even more complicated.
Dunmore is a very clever writer who has weaved a compelling story of espionage in 1960s UK. But Exposure is so much more than that. To a great extent, Exposure is a character study of people facing unusual and unexpected situations. The espionage aspects were accessible as they weren't too crazy messy.
3.5 stars
Cover: 4 stars
July 22, 2019
My first of Dunmore’s novels, read for my book club. This is nicely written in a style comparable to Kate Atkinson’s or Pat Barker’s. I was expecting a spy thriller, though, so found the book fairly, er, un-thrilling for much of its length. It’s more of a domestic drama about the aftermath of Cold War-era spying and secrets. Giles Holloway, a double agent for the Russians, falls down the stairs of his flat and winds up in hospital. He contacts Simon Callington, a colleague and former lover, to clean up after him – on his desk he’d left a top-secret file that shouldn’t have been in his possession. Even though Simon’s wife, German-born Lily, hides the file, Simon becomes the fall guy and faces prison time.
The book didn’t really pick up for me until well past the halfway point, but there’s a great final sequence. Dunmore does well to elicit sympathy for Giles, Simon, and Lily and the children all at the same time, and creates a delicious villain in Julian Clowde. I especially liked the maggots, and “Monsieur Nuage.” This is thoroughly readable stuff. I wasn’t wowed, but will probably read another novel or two by Dunmore (Talking with the Dead comes with a personal recommendation, and Zennor in Darkness is about D.H. Lawrence).
The book didn’t really pick up for me until well past the halfway point, but there’s a great final sequence. Dunmore does well to elicit sympathy for Giles, Simon, and Lily and the children all at the same time, and creates a delicious villain in Julian Clowde. I especially liked the maggots, and “Monsieur Nuage.” This is thoroughly readable stuff. I wasn’t wowed, but will probably read another novel or two by Dunmore (Talking with the Dead comes with a personal recommendation, and Zennor in Darkness is about D.H. Lawrence).
June 12, 2018
What a wonderful writer Helen Dunmore was. ‘Exposure’ is a unique story of secrets and spies in mid 20th c England. Occasionally, it reminded me of The Railway Children but this is no children’s storybook!
Dunmore expertly manages multiple points-of-view and even made unlikeable characters sympathetic.
The baddies are a bit stereotypical (but perhaps rooted in real life) and her heroine is a bit too good (but perhaps that makes us underestimate her).
The story ends (as it has done throughout) leaving something to the imagination - but not too much.
Dunmore expertly manages multiple points-of-view and even made unlikeable characters sympathetic.
The baddies are a bit stereotypical (but perhaps rooted in real life) and her heroine is a bit too good (but perhaps that makes us underestimate her).
The story ends (as it has done throughout) leaving something to the imagination - but not too much.
June 5, 2016
Cold War espionage...
When fading Communist spy Giles Holloway falls drunkenly down his stairs and breaks his leg, he must somehow get the Top Secret file he has “borrowed” back to the Admiralty before anyone notices it's missing. So he turns to his old friend and colleague Simon Callington for help. But Giles is under observation and someone sees Simon collecting the file. And so Simon is sucked into a situation that threatens to destroy everything he holds dear.
It's almost impossible to write a short summary of this one that doesn't make it sound as if it's a spy thriller, and in many ways it is. But mostly what it is is a set of brilliant character studies showing the impact of this event on the lives of all those involved. It's also a highly intelligent twist on The Railway Children – a book the author herself references in the text, so the connections are clearly intentional – where we see the story from the adults' side. And it's an entirely credible portrayal of a fictionalised version of the Cambridge spy ring and its association with homosexuality, at that period of the 1950s and early '60s still a crime, and enough to destroy a man's career and even life, if exposed.
The writing is excellent, quickly building up a tense atmosphere of secrecy and suspicion. The book is written in third person, allowing the reader to get inside the head of each of the major characters in turn. Dunmore's skill allows her to use tense effectively – the book is mostly written in the present tense, but slips in and out of past tense seamlessly when appropriate, so that the reader always knows where s/he is in the timeline. The “past” is there only to provide the reader with an understanding of why the characters act as they do in the present – the real story is of the weeks and months following Giles' accident.
Cold War spy fiction is usually an almost entirely male preserve (with the exception of the occasional sexy femme fatale) and the Cambridge spy ring has been examined many times in fiction and fact, so to a degree Simon's and Giles' stories are familiar territory, though rarely in my experience told with such exceptional depth and credibility of character. But what really makes this book stand out from the crowd is the inclusion of Simon's wife and family.
Lily is intelligent and loving, never once doubting her husband's innocence and fiercely protective of her children. But her childhood was filled with experiences that give her particular cause to fear and distrust the shady world of intelligence and security – a past she now fears may come back to damage Simon and the children. Dunmore brilliantly shows how Lily's early experiences are both her weakness and her strength when she must start making decisions for her family.
Peter is the eldest son but still only a boy on the cusp of his teen years when the story begins. With his sister, at first his head is full of adventure stories, such as the aforementioned Railway Children, where somehow the children will find a clue that will save their father, or be able to survive on their own if, as they fear, both their parents are arrested. Dunmore again gives a superb portrayal of Peter suddenly being forced to grow up before his time and take on some of the responsibilities of the man of the family. Lily finds herself reluctantly leaning on her son's strength, but simultaneously regretting that he is now losing his childhood too early, as she herself had done.
The family is at the heart of the book, but the spy story is excellent too. Giles is a low-level spy, once a golden boy but now his constant drinking making him something of a liability. We see the coldness at the heart of the spy ring – the readiness of each level of the organisation to sacrifice the people lower down in order to protect themselves. But Dunmore also takes us back to the time when Simon and Giles met, so that we can see how their relationship developed and understand why Simon still retains feelings of loyalty to this rather sad and broken older man who has dragged him into a situation that is destroying him and the people he most loves.
To understand the Cambridge spy ring, it's necessary to understand the society of the time, so different to today's. Dunmore's depiction feels perfect – at no point did I have that jarring sensation of tripping over an anachronism. The physical stuff – furniture, cigarettes, food etc – is used skilfully to put us into this time period, without ever being overdone. But even more, she reproduces the social and emotional aspects of the time with great authenticity, especially with regard to the two aspects most closely associated with the Cambridge spies – the old boys' network of class and social background, and society's attitudes to homosexuality. Her characters' reactions are always true to the period – no 21st century political correctness creeping in at inappropriate moments. I think the best compliment I can pay her is to say that the book reads as if it could have been written contemporaneously.
And so, when the end plays out with all the drama and suspense of any good spy thriller, it nonetheless all has a feeling of inevitability and truthfulness – none of her carefully developed characters could have acted in ways other than they do. A wonderful book, one of the best of the year for me, and I shall certainly be reading more of Dunmore's books soon.
NB This book was provided for review by the publisher, Random House Cornerstone.
www.fictionfanblog.wordpress.com
When fading Communist spy Giles Holloway falls drunkenly down his stairs and breaks his leg, he must somehow get the Top Secret file he has “borrowed” back to the Admiralty before anyone notices it's missing. So he turns to his old friend and colleague Simon Callington for help. But Giles is under observation and someone sees Simon collecting the file. And so Simon is sucked into a situation that threatens to destroy everything he holds dear.
It's almost impossible to write a short summary of this one that doesn't make it sound as if it's a spy thriller, and in many ways it is. But mostly what it is is a set of brilliant character studies showing the impact of this event on the lives of all those involved. It's also a highly intelligent twist on The Railway Children – a book the author herself references in the text, so the connections are clearly intentional – where we see the story from the adults' side. And it's an entirely credible portrayal of a fictionalised version of the Cambridge spy ring and its association with homosexuality, at that period of the 1950s and early '60s still a crime, and enough to destroy a man's career and even life, if exposed.
The writing is excellent, quickly building up a tense atmosphere of secrecy and suspicion. The book is written in third person, allowing the reader to get inside the head of each of the major characters in turn. Dunmore's skill allows her to use tense effectively – the book is mostly written in the present tense, but slips in and out of past tense seamlessly when appropriate, so that the reader always knows where s/he is in the timeline. The “past” is there only to provide the reader with an understanding of why the characters act as they do in the present – the real story is of the weeks and months following Giles' accident.
Cold War spy fiction is usually an almost entirely male preserve (with the exception of the occasional sexy femme fatale) and the Cambridge spy ring has been examined many times in fiction and fact, so to a degree Simon's and Giles' stories are familiar territory, though rarely in my experience told with such exceptional depth and credibility of character. But what really makes this book stand out from the crowd is the inclusion of Simon's wife and family.
Lily is intelligent and loving, never once doubting her husband's innocence and fiercely protective of her children. But her childhood was filled with experiences that give her particular cause to fear and distrust the shady world of intelligence and security – a past she now fears may come back to damage Simon and the children. Dunmore brilliantly shows how Lily's early experiences are both her weakness and her strength when she must start making decisions for her family.
Peter is the eldest son but still only a boy on the cusp of his teen years when the story begins. With his sister, at first his head is full of adventure stories, such as the aforementioned Railway Children, where somehow the children will find a clue that will save their father, or be able to survive on their own if, as they fear, both their parents are arrested. Dunmore again gives a superb portrayal of Peter suddenly being forced to grow up before his time and take on some of the responsibilities of the man of the family. Lily finds herself reluctantly leaning on her son's strength, but simultaneously regretting that he is now losing his childhood too early, as she herself had done.
The family is at the heart of the book, but the spy story is excellent too. Giles is a low-level spy, once a golden boy but now his constant drinking making him something of a liability. We see the coldness at the heart of the spy ring – the readiness of each level of the organisation to sacrifice the people lower down in order to protect themselves. But Dunmore also takes us back to the time when Simon and Giles met, so that we can see how their relationship developed and understand why Simon still retains feelings of loyalty to this rather sad and broken older man who has dragged him into a situation that is destroying him and the people he most loves.
To understand the Cambridge spy ring, it's necessary to understand the society of the time, so different to today's. Dunmore's depiction feels perfect – at no point did I have that jarring sensation of tripping over an anachronism. The physical stuff – furniture, cigarettes, food etc – is used skilfully to put us into this time period, without ever being overdone. But even more, she reproduces the social and emotional aspects of the time with great authenticity, especially with regard to the two aspects most closely associated with the Cambridge spies – the old boys' network of class and social background, and society's attitudes to homosexuality. Her characters' reactions are always true to the period – no 21st century political correctness creeping in at inappropriate moments. I think the best compliment I can pay her is to say that the book reads as if it could have been written contemporaneously.
And so, when the end plays out with all the drama and suspense of any good spy thriller, it nonetheless all has a feeling of inevitability and truthfulness – none of her carefully developed characters could have acted in ways other than they do. A wonderful book, one of the best of the year for me, and I shall certainly be reading more of Dunmore's books soon.
NB This book was provided for review by the publisher, Random House Cornerstone.
www.fictionfanblog.wordpress.com
January 23, 2016
Reviewed on www.snazzybooks.com
Exposure by Helen Dunmore is a vivid, aborning story. It’s about spies and secrecy, but it’s not a thriller. It’s more of a slow but beautifully written tale about a family and their struggles, together and apart, as they come to terms with what Simon has been accused of.
Helen Dunmore writes beautifully, as ever. Even when there isn’t a huge deal going on, I was completely absorbed into the story and didn’t really want it to end. You get a real sense of the family’s upheaval and despair, and the unfairness of Simon’s past coming back to haunt him in a certain sense. The characters, though not all likeable, are interesting to read about and seem realistic and convincing. I really liked Lily as a character- she was strong, supportive and got on with it even when times were hard.
The fact that the novel centres around the Cold War and British intelligence, adds therefore has a real sense of mystery to it, but as I mentioned before, this novel isn’t really about just that. It’s about the way Simon and his family react to his arrest, and similarly the way Giles doesn’t. It’s interesting that what Giles was actually doing is surrounded in so much secrecy, only adding to the tension.
This may not be a novel for readers who only enjoy fast paced, thrilling tales- I am someone who loves these, but I still hugely enjoyed Exposure, as more of a slow burner of a tale. Highly recommended.
* Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing a copy of this novel in return for an honest review *
Exposure by Helen Dunmore is a vivid, aborning story. It’s about spies and secrecy, but it’s not a thriller. It’s more of a slow but beautifully written tale about a family and their struggles, together and apart, as they come to terms with what Simon has been accused of.
Helen Dunmore writes beautifully, as ever. Even when there isn’t a huge deal going on, I was completely absorbed into the story and didn’t really want it to end. You get a real sense of the family’s upheaval and despair, and the unfairness of Simon’s past coming back to haunt him in a certain sense. The characters, though not all likeable, are interesting to read about and seem realistic and convincing. I really liked Lily as a character- she was strong, supportive and got on with it even when times were hard.
The fact that the novel centres around the Cold War and British intelligence, adds therefore has a real sense of mystery to it, but as I mentioned before, this novel isn’t really about just that. It’s about the way Simon and his family react to his arrest, and similarly the way Giles doesn’t. It’s interesting that what Giles was actually doing is surrounded in so much secrecy, only adding to the tension.
This may not be a novel for readers who only enjoy fast paced, thrilling tales- I am someone who loves these, but I still hugely enjoyed Exposure, as more of a slow burner of a tale. Highly recommended.
* Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing a copy of this novel in return for an honest review *
December 17, 2015
The story is set in London in the 1960, the cold war is at its height.
Giles Holloway who is always up to his eyes in whisky. His mansion flat has a secret attic with a desk. He takes top-secret files home and places them in his briefcase.
Giles takes a tumble-down the stairs and smashed his leg badly. While he is in hospital what will happen to his top secret files that are in his briefcase?
February 5, 2017
A very solid 4* read. And again a story set in the Cold War (probably my favourite historical period of recent history). This is a novel about secrets.
The story opens with a woman, a wife and mother, burying a suitcase in her garden. It's a suitcase her husband was sent to retrieve from a colleague / friend's house. There are secrets inside which need to remain hidden. Her husband had to decide whether to take the briefcase back to his office (which would ultimately mean he would be implicated in questionable behaviour) but instead decides to take it home. His wife, curious when she finds the suitcase hidden behind the wellies, realises the contents are very serious hence her actions.
The character development is very good - Lily, the woman in question, was a Jewish child refugee escaping Berlin in WW2 and had her secrets to hide. Her husband is hiding his friend Giles' suitcase/briefcase but their relationship has a much more involved history, again there are secrets to hide.
This was my first novel by Helen Dunmore and I'll be adding her others to my TBR list. The story had a good pace, relatively plausible ending, and good character development.
The story opens with a woman, a wife and mother, burying a suitcase in her garden. It's a suitcase her husband was sent to retrieve from a colleague / friend's house. There are secrets inside which need to remain hidden. Her husband had to decide whether to take the briefcase back to his office (which would ultimately mean he would be implicated in questionable behaviour) but instead decides to take it home. His wife, curious when she finds the suitcase hidden behind the wellies, realises the contents are very serious hence her actions.
The character development is very good - Lily, the woman in question, was a Jewish child refugee escaping Berlin in WW2 and had her secrets to hide. Her husband is hiding his friend Giles' suitcase/briefcase but their relationship has a much more involved history, again there are secrets to hide.
This was my first novel by Helen Dunmore and I'll be adding her others to my TBR list. The story had a good pace, relatively plausible ending, and good character development.
August 13, 2017
Helen Dunmore was one of the first authors to attend our local literary festival in Parisot in south-west France and subsequently became a patron so we were especially saddened by her recent death. This novel is typical of her low-key yet powerful storytelling, focusing on the effects of dramatic events on ordinary people's everyday lives.
In this case, it's the Callingtons, Lily, Simon and their three children caught up in a spying scandal in 1960 London. We have already experienced through John Le Carre's novels how mundane the lives of spies are and this is very much the case in Exposure. The only weakness of the novel is that the smooth upper class spymaster, Julian Clowde, and the debauched homosexual spy, Giles (based rather too closely on Guy Burgess) are both stereotypes. But this is more than made up for by the characters of Lily and Simon - especially Lily, a woman of subtly developed strength and resilience. In addition, the 1960s suburban life is beautifully captured - listening to the radio together in the evenings and the stress for children taking the eleven plus exam (I remember it well).
This is a gem of a novel.
In this case, it's the Callingtons, Lily, Simon and their three children caught up in a spying scandal in 1960 London. We have already experienced through John Le Carre's novels how mundane the lives of spies are and this is very much the case in Exposure. The only weakness of the novel is that the smooth upper class spymaster, Julian Clowde, and the debauched homosexual spy, Giles (based rather too closely on Guy Burgess) are both stereotypes. But this is more than made up for by the characters of Lily and Simon - especially Lily, a woman of subtly developed strength and resilience. In addition, the 1960s suburban life is beautifully captured - listening to the radio together in the evenings and the stress for children taking the eleven plus exam (I remember it well).
This is a gem of a novel.
June 8, 2019
I had previously read - and loved - Dunsmore's Leningrad novels. This book, sitting on my Kindle for quite some time, suddenly seemed to fit into my mini-binge of books set in post-War/Cold War Britain with an espionage theme (Warlight and Transcription). Dunsmore is a great writer, and I can't really understand why she is not recognized as being on a par with, for example, Ondaatje and Atkinson and other great contemporary novelists. I'm sorry I'm only fully acknowledging this after her death.
Exposure is quiet and powerful, intriguing and moving, with a panoply of well-realized characters. If there's a scene that doesn't quite ring true at the very end, it's for the most part deftly plotted, but not at the expense of bringing a diverse group of characters to light. I really never wanted to put this one down.
Exposure is quiet and powerful, intriguing and moving, with a panoply of well-realized characters. If there's a scene that doesn't quite ring true at the very end, it's for the most part deftly plotted, but not at the expense of bringing a diverse group of characters to light. I really never wanted to put this one down.
November 17, 2015
This book was provided by NetGalley in return for an honest review.
A compelling take on a classic genre, this book will captivate you!
I am not traditionally a reader of spy novels so let me say upfront that "Exposure" is a great find for anyone who enjoys the crime, thriller, and literary genres. The focus is on the characters; their actions and reactions. Every character is so well-drawn and distinct with their set of strengths and weaknesses, that you know them, understand them and can see them in your mind’s eye.
True to their natures, the characters bring about their own predicaments. Simon’s misplaced or historic loyalty to his friend Giles Holloway, is the catalyst for all that is about to go wrong in their lives when he agrees to collect a top secret file from Giles’ residence and return it to the office . Lily, the lead female protagonist (and Simon’s wife) carries the stigma of childhood Jewish persecution and occasionally her clipped German accent appears, but her strength never wavers. She knows how to protect her own and there is a scene towards the end of the novel (not giving anything away) involving Lily and the sinister spy Julian Clowde—a fearful character to behold—that I found so frightening that I held my breath throughout the entire reading of it. Giles indulgent and privileged life catches up with him and the reader is taken on the journey of his demise.
In true ‘spy’ fashion the system lets the vulnerable down and you will rally with frustration at the unfairness of it all, but despair not—no spoiler alert is needed to advise that justice prevails (to some degree).
Work your way through the first few chapters to meet the characters and from there on you won’t want to leave them.
A compelling take on a classic genre, this book will captivate you!
I am not traditionally a reader of spy novels so let me say upfront that "Exposure" is a great find for anyone who enjoys the crime, thriller, and literary genres. The focus is on the characters; their actions and reactions. Every character is so well-drawn and distinct with their set of strengths and weaknesses, that you know them, understand them and can see them in your mind’s eye.
True to their natures, the characters bring about their own predicaments. Simon’s misplaced or historic loyalty to his friend Giles Holloway, is the catalyst for all that is about to go wrong in their lives when he agrees to collect a top secret file from Giles’ residence and return it to the office . Lily, the lead female protagonist (and Simon’s wife) carries the stigma of childhood Jewish persecution and occasionally her clipped German accent appears, but her strength never wavers. She knows how to protect her own and there is a scene towards the end of the novel (not giving anything away) involving Lily and the sinister spy Julian Clowde—a fearful character to behold—that I found so frightening that I held my breath throughout the entire reading of it. Giles indulgent and privileged life catches up with him and the reader is taken on the journey of his demise.
In true ‘spy’ fashion the system lets the vulnerable down and you will rally with frustration at the unfairness of it all, but despair not—no spoiler alert is needed to advise that justice prevails (to some degree).
Work your way through the first few chapters to meet the characters and from there on you won’t want to leave them.
January 10, 2016
Simon Callington is a fairly unambitious middle ranking admiralty officer. It was Giles Holloway who got Simon the job, Giles a secretive, manipulative hard drinker, who Simon knew at Cambridge. Now, Simon is content enough to remain as he is, his happiness lying in his nice home in Muswell Hill, his wife Lily and their three children.
One night as Simon is comfortably seated by his fire, he gets a panic call from Giles. Giles wants Simon to help clear up a serious mess he has made. There’s a file where it shouldn’t be – secret voices on the end of the phone, a shadowy man who lets himself into Giles’s flat. With Giles out of action, Simon is persuaded to help – against his better judgement. He soon comes to regret his decision, a quick glance at the file in question – and he knows it means trouble.
Simon has his own secrets that risk exposure, a life he lived while at Cambridge his wife knows nothing about. Lily finds the file hidden behind the children’s boots in the cloakroom, and fearing for its discovery – buries it in the garden.
Full review: https://heavenali.wordpress.com/2016/...
One night as Simon is comfortably seated by his fire, he gets a panic call from Giles. Giles wants Simon to help clear up a serious mess he has made. There’s a file where it shouldn’t be – secret voices on the end of the phone, a shadowy man who lets himself into Giles’s flat. With Giles out of action, Simon is persuaded to help – against his better judgement. He soon comes to regret his decision, a quick glance at the file in question – and he knows it means trouble.
Simon has his own secrets that risk exposure, a life he lived while at Cambridge his wife knows nothing about. Lily finds the file hidden behind the children’s boots in the cloakroom, and fearing for its discovery – buries it in the garden.
Full review: https://heavenali.wordpress.com/2016/...
April 2, 2016
Two of my GR friends rated this highly and I am glad I picked up the audiobook. While espionage is at the center of this novel, it is not a thriller. Rather it is a story about secrets, and hidden identities. It is 1960 in London and Simon, father of three and Lily's husband works in the government in a department which handles sensitive information. Lilly was a Jewish refugee from Germany at the time of World War II. Her mother wouldn't allow her to speak German after they moved the England, and Lily becomes "English". As her life with Simon unravels, her German past starts to emerge. There are many reasons for people in this novel to hide their true identities whether it is that they are Jewish, or German, spies or gay men. Homosexuality was outlawed and not only would men (and it seems to be men who were penalized more so than women) lose their jobs but they often were imprisoned. Lilly develops strength and determination she didn't know she had.
The audiobook was expertly read and overall it was a winner.
The audiobook was expertly read and overall it was a winner.
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