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The Secret Pilgrim John Le Carre Books

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The Secret Pilgrim John Le Carre Books

This is clearly one of the best of this great author's books, and I have loved a number of them. It adds depth and background to so many of the other books. And, in some ways, I am glad that I read the book now rather than when it came out. The protagonist, Ned, is at about the same age and the same stage in his career as I am now, and I don't think I would have understood this book nearly as well in mid-career. I re-read some paragraphs and sections of the book multiple times because they seemed to speak directly to me. (Not that I was in the same line of work, but there are enough similarities that I can appreciate and understand most of the situations Ned has to deal with.)
I am a great fan of the George Smiley stories. George Smiley appears as a character in this book, and the book provides new insights into Smiley, but this book is not really about Smiley. It is a series of stories that help elucidate the evolving dynamics and quirks of a complex, aging organization that is struggling to respond to change and overcome failures. Ned proves to be an able and honest narrator who shares his story complete with his own personal doubts, fears, idiosyncrasies, and triumphs.
Reading this after reading all of the other Smiley stories is probably the correct order.
I hope you will enjoy and experience this book, and get as much out of it, as I did.


Tags : Amazon.com: The Secret Pilgrim (9780394588421): John Le Carre: Books,John Le Carre,The Secret Pilgrim,Alfred A. Knopf,0394588428,Thrillers - Espionage,EspionageIntrigue,Fiction,Fiction - Espionage Thriller,Fiction General,Fiction Thrillers Espionage,Le Carre, John - Prose & Criticism

The Secret Pilgrim John Le Carre Books Reviews

I always enjoy John Le Carre novels. This one is more remorseful about the ideological war between capitalism and communism during the Cold War and post the Cold War, and the human toll, as seen through the eyes of protagonist, Ned (from The Russia House). I found the story about the Khmer Rouge the most difficult to get out of my mind.
Entreating this compilation of Smiley related tales has only one drawback and that is there can be no more of Smiley than we know of today. Or can there?
The final Smiley book but as told through the thoughts and experience of Ned, coming to terms with his own demons. It captures the clever twists of many of Le Carre's other stories but as short stories, each enjoyable to read in themselves but totaling up to something more than the individual stories. To a certain extent it is a book covering the transition of the writer from the loyal servant of the Britain in the cold war to one who abhors of the post cold war avaricious society, as found in other books like the Constant Gardener. Le Carre as usual captures the human dilemma of men who have to live so constantly a lie that they lose themselves. Truly enjoyable and engrossing
Probably the best written of the Smiley series - le Carre's talent at creating a sense of place and time along with his sharp conversational touch is coupled with a series of tightly told adventures. A real page turner that I found hard to put down.
A lovely book by a magnificent author. Even if it is old (1991) it evokes all the wonderful memories of the Smiley period. The description of all the people is so evocative, one might well be in the room. An author at the height of his powers, making the transition from the Cold War to the new reality of the 21st century. As a bonus we are introduced to two characters who return to us in "The Night Manager". Marvellous!
The Secret Pilgrim is le Carre's 11th entry into the spy/espionage genre. It is a collection of short stories chronologically following some of the career high/low(?) points of an associate of George Smiley's, Ned, who Smiley mentored since Ned was a young, unworldly recruit. The various stories' plot lines frequently tip toe near the verge of boredom, but are saved by occasional bursts of le Carre's eloquent writing saving the day. Hard core fans such as me will find this a pleasant read in a low key sort of way, those readers not familiar with le Carre's body of work may be hard pressed to find any reason to persevere. A recurring theme in the stories seems to come back to a creeping malaise overtaking Ned and frequently expressed in a sequential cheating on his partner with other women(somewhat of a reversal of George Smiley's relationship with his wife, Ann). As with so much of le Carre's work it isn't a mad leap to assume the author writes so frequently on a subject because it is resonates with his own life and adds piquancy to the already poignant picture left by his other novels. It is not easy being David Cornwell(le Carre's nom de plume), but my world is richer for his gifting me with the work of what I consider one of the living masters of the English language. The Secret Pilgrim's last few pages drive home what will come to be a recurring theme in le Carre's shift from covert Cold War machinations to corporate/personal greed/gluttony in the world his books paint. The author wonders if materialism will triumph over the West where Communism failed and promises no easy amswers.
B plus-ish. Worth a second reading and so I added the last star upon rereading. The "novel" is more like a collection of short stories, all fascinating and some illustrating strange quirks of human nature. Agent Ned and Spy master Smiley review their careers to new recruits, Ned being the narrative voice. The author contrasts bureaucracy on the one hand and human needs and emotions on the other, with the latter being the more valued. The tone is critical of the business of spying, asking whether these veteran agents ever did any real good in the world. Nonetheless the necessity of having spies is given a somewhat equivocal pass. The characters are unusual but come across as real; the writing is witty and memorable.

LeCarre's writing is highly textured and thoughtful, more so than is generally the practice nowadays. If a reader has not the patience with this style, this may not be the book for him/her.
This is clearly one of the best of this great author's books, and I have loved a number of them. It adds depth and background to so many of the other books. And, in some ways, I am glad that I read the book now rather than when it came out. The protagonist, Ned, is at about the same age and the same stage in his career as I am now, and I don't think I would have understood this book nearly as well in mid-career. I re-read some paragraphs and sections of the book multiple times because they seemed to speak directly to me. (Not that I was in the same line of work, but there are enough similarities that I can appreciate and understand most of the situations Ned has to deal with.)
I am a great fan of the George Smiley stories. George Smiley appears as a character in this book, and the book provides new insights into Smiley, but this book is not really about Smiley. It is a series of stories that help elucidate the evolving dynamics and quirks of a complex, aging organization that is struggling to respond to change and overcome failures. Ned proves to be an able and honest narrator who shares his story complete with his own personal doubts, fears, idiosyncrasies, and triumphs.
Reading this after reading all of the other Smiley stories is probably the correct order.
I hope you will enjoy and experience this book, and get as much out of it, as I did.