Pulp Fiction discussion

As the weather turns cold for those of us in the Northern hemisphere, what better reading material than...COLD WAR SPY NOVELS!

This month's selection is a stand-alone novel by perhaps the King of Cold War Spy Novels, John Le Carré.

Le Carré was born David John Moore Cornwell in 1931 - other notable family members include older brother Tony who was a county cricketer for Dorset, younger half-sister Charlotte Cornwell who was an actress, younger half-brother Rupert Cornwell who was a Washington Bureau Chief for The Independent, and uncle Alec Glassey who was a Member of Parliament. Le Carré's father was jailed for insurance fraud and was known to be an associate of the Kray Twins. His mother abandoned the house when he was five, although he was reconciled with her when he was 21.

After college and a stint in the Intelligence Corps of the British Army as well as some teaching positions, Le Carré joined MI-5 in 1958. He began writing shortly after, publishing his first novel - Call for the Dead - in 1961, featuring his recurring protagonist George Smiley. In 1963 - now working at MI-6 - Le Carré published what would be his breakout success, The Spy Who Came In from the Cold. (RJ's NOTE - this is what I call a "one-word book" on Goodreads. If you type in just the word "Spy" this book will pop up in the first five options.)

The success of The Spy Who Came In From the Cold was well timed, since Le Carré's MI-6 career would come to an end with the exposure of British Agent's covers by the notorious double agent Kim Philby in 1964. Le Carré would continue to successfully publish (almost exclusively) spy novels until his death in 2020.


This month's selection - A Perfect Spy - was published in 1984 near the end of the Cold War, the same year Le Carré would be made an Honorary Fellow at Lincoln College, Oxford as well as a Mystery Writers of America Edgar Grand Master. Much of the novel is said to be autobiographical in nature.



Here's a picture of Le Carré trying to remember where he left his car keys.

Back in reading mode, waiting for my library hold to arrive at my library. Looking forward to it, though it a little heavy for the busy holiday season.

The caption under the picture actually made me laugh out loud and I thank you for that, RJ.

Chad wrote: "The caption under the picture actually made me laugh out loud and I thank you for that, RJ."

I'm glad you liked it, Chad.

Sorry, I have been completely out of reading mode the last few weeks! I'm going to do better in 2025, I swear.

I have to make a note to myself not to undertake a long book in December. Just too busy cooking and baking and spending time with family and friends.

This book was going well, enjoying it, but only got halfway through and lost focus as the month went on. So I set it aside. I’ve already placed a hold at the library for the January book.