43 pages • 1 hour read
The Spy Who Came in from the Cold
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Book Brief
240
Novel • Fiction
Cold War Europe • 1960s
1963
Adult
18+ years
Super Short Summary
Alec Leamas, a British spy betrayed after his network in Berlin collapses, is tasked with defecting to East Germany to dismantle enemy agent Mundt. Feigning disgrace, he sinks into a public decline, pretends to defect, and becomes entangled with a Communist librarian, Liz Gold. His mission reveals deep espionage intrigues and moral complexities amidst Cold War tensions in the novel The Spy Who Came in from the Cold. This book contains references to antisemitism and addiction.
Dark
Mysterious
Suspenseful
Gritty
Melancholic
Reviews & Readership
132,402 ratings
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Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
John le Carré’s The Spy Who Came in from the Cold is widely praised for its intricate plotting, gritty realism, and deep character development. Critics commend its suspense and moral complexity but note its bleak tone and dense narrative may not appeal to all readers. Overall, it remains a seminal work in the espionage genre.
Who Should Read The Spy Who Came in from the Cold?
Readers who relish cerebral espionage thrillers, intricate Cold War politics, and morally ambiguous characters will enjoy John le Carré's The Spy Who Came in from the Cold. Fans of Graham Greene's The Quiet American and Ian Fleming's James Bond series would find this novel compelling for its gripping realism and depth.
132,402 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
240
Novel • Fiction
Cold War Europe • 1960s
1963
Adult
18+ years
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