Ilse’s Reviews > Honourable Schoolboy > Status Update
Ilse
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Talking of others, old men talk about themselves, studying their image in vanished mirrors.
— Aug 21, 2026 12:14PM
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Ilse’s Previous Updates
Ilse
is on page 451 of 664
The general's son spoke slow and beautiful French and it clearly gave him great pleasure to hear himself, for he kept his eyes half closed and smiled as he spoke, as if listening to beloved music.
— Aug 26, 2026 05:04AM
Ilse
is on page 80 of 664
A desk is a dangerous place from which to watch the world.
— Aug 17, 2026 01:40AM
Ilse
is on page 56 of 664
The day was uncommonly hot for autumn. Rich shafts of sunlight poured on to the representational carpet, and the dust-specks played in them like tiny tropical fish.
Le Carré's poetics of the workspace
— Jul 29, 2026 04:00AM
Le Carré's poetics of the workspace
Ilse
is on page 52 of 664
Soon the gloom of the place seemed to work itself into the fabric of his face, like dust into the complexion of a prisoner.
(Strikes me as a fitting observation on the eve of returning to the workplace ;)
— Jul 26, 2026 01:09PM
(Strikes me as a fitting observation on the eve of returning to the workplace ;)
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Murray ᛘᚢᛦᛦᛅᛁ
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Aug 21, 2026 12:16PM
Can a fat middle-aged spy save the world?
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Moché wrote: "Can a fat middle-aged spy save the world?"A rethorical question, imho ;)!
Jan-Maat wrote: "A self portrait of the author?"Good point! Self-portrait at the mirror, wouldn't that be a suitable painting/photograph of Le Carré, evoking the duality of observer and observed? Le Carré was 46 when 'A honourable schoolboy' was published, which makes me wonder if he is contemplating how it will be to be old(er) through Smiley...
Julio wrote: "You forget he's also a cuckold, Moche."Julio, do you see that as a helpful or on the contrary a hindering factor in Smiley's profession?