A Noble Profession

by Pierre Boulle

In this provocative new novel, Pierre Boulle probes with a sharp scalpel the psychological anatomy of a spy - a man who sacrifices his country, his honor, and even his own life to an heroic image. In a story of intrigue and adventure as ingenious and gripping as anything in The Bridge Over the River Kwai, Mr. Boulle takes us from the aristocracy of British Intelligence and the German Secret Service to such ungentlemanly pursuits as torture, murder, and long-simmered revenge. The action revolves around Cousin - an intellectual author who prides himself on his own objectivity but who actually sees the world through the dreams of his own imagined superiority. World War II gives Cousin the chance to show that superiority by volunteering for espionage - a job, he feels, that is for gentlemen, and the arduous responsibilities of which only an aristocrat can assume. The heroic image to which Cousin sacrifices everything - including, at last, himself - is his own. A NOBLE PROFESSION is Boulle at his best - a sardonic, ironic, brilliant performance that adds a new and shining portrait to this master storyteller's wryly etched gallery of false heroes, charlatan saints, and vengeful patriots.

Genres: Espionage, Fiction, Thriller

255 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1960

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Pierre Boulle (20 February 1912 – 30 January 1994) was a French novelist best known for two works, The Bridge over the River Kwai (1952) and Planet of the Apes (1963) that were both made into award-winning films.

Boulle was an engineer serving as a secret agent with the Free French in Singapore, when he was captured and subjected to two years' forced labour. He used these experiences in The Bridge over the River Kwai, about the notorious Death Railway, which became an international bestseller. The film by David Lean won many Oscars, and Boulle was credited with writing the screenplay, because its two genuine authors had been blacklisted.

His science-fiction novel Planet of the Apes, where intelligent apes gain mastery over humans, was adapted into a series of five award-winning films that spawned magazine versions and popular themed toys.

Reviews

[Marie-Chritine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Se termine sur un geste magnanime auquel je ne m'attendais pas

[Bob · Rating 3 out of 5]

Though there were many issues with this book, I generally enjoyed it. The main character of Cousin was annoying, too egocentric and far too judgemental of others. Also the author seems to point these character flaws out too early, so that throughout the book I found it hard to trust Cousin, whereas a slower reveal of his character might have been better, (for me at least).

Also in the book though a lot of things happen, because they are mostly written in conversations where somebody is reporting them to someone else, and mostly described very briefly, the book does seem overly long with nothing happening.

Overall just OK

[Eva Praskova · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really did not enjoy the book. The main character is in my opinion annoying, self-aggrandizing and just insufferable in every conceivable manner. The writing didn't do much to help matters either. I muddled through hoping for some twist or interesting development, but there was none. It was a predictable flat story with unlikable character and boring writing.

[Timothy · Rating 4 out of 5]

John Le Carre may have been influenced by this spy thriller, given the similarities in character development and case description. Add the psychological element of spy craft, which reminds us of Kafka-esque introspection, and this novel is unique in the genre.

[Andreea R · Rating 4 out of 5]

Printre primele cărți citite în adolescență, o lectură interesantă care mi-a deschis apetitul pt thrillere

[Danielle Tremblay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cousin est un écrivain, un intellectuel à qui la guerre va donner l'occasion de révéler son âme... en tout cas c'est comme ça qu'il envisage les choses. Il s'avère en fait que l'héroïsme ne se commande pas et Cousin ne parvient pas à devenir le héros de ses rêves.

Accompagnant la débâcle de l'armée française jusqu'en Bretagne, il parvient par un concours de circonstances à se rendre en Angleterre pour continuer la lutte et ainsi devenir ce héros sublime qui sauvera la partie.

Hélas, cela ne va encore pas se passer comme prévu. Pris par la Gestapo, il ne parviendra pas à être héroïque devant ses bourreaux. Ce qui ne l'empêchera pas d'être volontaire pour retourner au feu de l'action. Son prestige est encore à faire !

Dans Un métier de seigneur, Pierre Boulle dépeint sans fard le monde des services secrets. On aperçoit les parties d'échecs que se jouent les camps ennemis. Les "espions" sont les pions de ce jeu, et les joueurs doivent être de fins psychologues pour tirer le meilleur de leurs pions.

La réflexion psychologique est intéressante et le bon docteur Fog, carrément machiavélique. C'est au final une bonne façon de voir autrement ce monde étrange.

J'avais lu cet excellent roman dans les années 70. J'ai pris un grand plaisir à le relire.

[Jc · Rating 3 out of 5]

C’est bien écrit, comme on n’écrit d’ailleurs plus 60 ans plus tard. L’histoire est intéressante : un lâche qui se voudrait un héros pendant la 2eme guerre mondiale. Les passages d’une période à une autre et d’un personnage à un autre agrémentent le rythme. Un bon roman psychologique.