A Perfect Spy

A Perfect Spy is a 1986 spy novel by British author John le Carré. Described by the author as his most autobiographical work, the story involves the unexpected disappearance of British spy Magnus Pym after his father’s funeral. While hiding from his superiors, Pym reflects on his father’s influence and his lifetime spent lying to the world. A Perfect Spy has been adapted for television and radio. The story explores themes common to the world of espionage, including changing identities and loyalties as well as hollow lives.

This guide uses an eBook version of the 2000 Penguin edition.

Content Warning: This guide discusses acts of violence, including death by suicide.

Plot Summary

A Perfect Spy is split into two non-linear timelines. In the present, Magnus Pym disappears after his father’s funeral. Pym is a high-ranking British intelligence officer stationed in Vienna with his wife Mary. Trained by a man named Jack Brotherhood, Pym now operates a large network of spies across Eastern Europe, particularly in Czechoslovakia. However, Pym returns to Britain because of his father’s death. After the funeral, he travels to a small town in Devon, where for many years he has rented a room from a woman named Miss Dubber.