[sseth]

Besides the Smiley novels, The Perfect Spy is one of the most beautifully crafted of John le Carre's novels. Beautifully written with layers upon layers of meaning - each time you reread a Carre you see another facet.

If there was a theme across his books - he was always concerned with the nature of betrayal. "Love is whatever you can still betray". Betrayal of country, of a spouse, and even of a parent.

[namdnay]

Much as I love Le Carré (and I say that as someone who has read every one of his books at least three times), I have to give one “criticism” which is that nearly all his books deal with decent but flawed upper middle class public school boys who went to Oxbridge, were more or less abandoned by their parents and have difficulty relating to the other sex.

When you read a perfect spy, you understand why :)

[jack_riminton]

Well, unfortunately that type has ruled the UK for most of the past few centuries! Current incumbent in the top seat is no exception

[namdnay]

I'm not sure "decent" fits the current incumbent very well...

[rijoja]

Hasn't the UK been exceptionally successful over the past few centuries?