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I was surprised by how much I disliked this spy novel by the genre genius, John Le Carre. The story takes place over the course of a week, in Bonn, the capital of the Federal Republic of Germany, during the midst of a series of anti-British demonstrations over the UK's attempt to join the Common Market (predecessor to the EU).
A "fixer" is sent from London's central HQ to find out what happened to a missing British embassy worker and the files he may or may not have stolen. The fixer, Alan Turne ...more
A "fixer" is sent from London's central HQ to find out what happened to a missing British embassy worker and the files he may or may not have stolen. The fixer, Alan Turne ...more
The small town in question is Bonn. A sleepy province down the Rhine from Cologne which, to the bafflement of many, was chosen as the Post War capital of West Germany. A minor British embassy worker, Leo Harting, has disappeared with a significant number of confidential files. Sensing a Soviet mole a spy catcher from the Foreign Office, Alan Turner, is sent to investigate. All whilst set in time when there were genuine concerns the Far-Right could rise again in Germany and ex-Nazis remained free ...more
What the early years of the cold war felt like, the moral ambiguity of building a modern democracy from the ashes of the third reich.
Le Carre, brilliant as always.
Apr 23, 2013
Bobbie
marked it as to-read
Jun 17, 2013
Elaine
marked it as to-read
Sep 27, 2013
Cold War Conversations Podcast
marked it as to-read
Dec 24, 2015
Brent
marked it as shelf-hard-cover
Mar 11, 2016
Mónica
marked it as to-read
Apr 21, 2016
Mark
marked it as to-read
Mar 20, 2017
John Wallace
marked it as to-read
Dec 24, 2019
Suzane
marked it as to-read
Dec 13, 2020
Quimby
marked it as to-read
