The Secret Pilgrim
The Secret Pilgrim by John le Carré, published by Penguin Books Limited on May 26, 2011, is a notable addition to the author’s collection of espionage novels featuring the character George Smiley. This edition, part of the Penguin Modern Classics series, spans 409 pages and is presented in English. The narrative unfolds in the aftermath of the Cold War, focusing on Ned, who, having been demoted to a training academy, invites Smiley to address his class. Through Smiley’s candid reflections, the story explores themes of personal triumphs and failures within the complex world of espionage.
Readers will find a rich tapestry of experiences as Ned recalls his journey across various locations, including Scotland, Hamburg, Israel, and Cambodia. The book delves into the moral complexities of a spy’s life, prompting questions about the impact of their actions and the future of espionage in a changing world. The Secret Pilgrim offers a unique perspective on the human side of intelligence work, making it a significant entry in the literary thriller genre.
Official synopsis Publisher
The eighth of John le Carré’s espionage novels to feature his most enduring and well-loved character, George Smiley, and a gripping feat of narrative brilliance, The Secret Pilgrim is published in Penguin Modern Classics with an afterword by the author.
The Cold War is over and Ned has been demoted to the training academy. He asks his old mentor, George Smiley, to address his passing-out class. There are no laundered reminiscences; Smiley speaks the truth – perhaps the last the students will ever hear. As they listen, Ned recalls his own painful triumphs and inglorious failures, in a career that took him from the Western Isles of Scotland to Hamburg and from Israel to Cambodia. He asks himself: Did it do any good? What did it do to me? And what will happen to us now? In this late Smiley novel, the great spy gives his own humane and unexpected answers.
If you enjoyed The Secret Pilgrim, you might like le Carré’s The Spy Who Came In From the Cold, also available in Penguin Modern Classics.
‘Consummate and enthralling’
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