When I think of England I think of Bletchley Park. I think of tweed, rain, tea, men in leather shoes, women named Lucy with white skin and flushed cheeks. I can’t help it. I’m a romantic. I think of the mastery of language, the sharp, cutting humor, and great literature. I also think of John le Carré. (David John Moore Cornwell.)(And sometimes The Young Ones.) I love England, which is why I joined their secret service. Yes, I’m just telling everyone now. Full disclosure.
It was either MI5, or MI6, or some other thing with a number and letter. Or did I?
Silverview was le Carré’s last book. Spy on top of spy on top of spy. Bookstores, Polish emigre, a touch of romance, and the idea that spies grow old but still keep secrets. I loved this aspect of the book. Imagine retirement as a spy. Can you really retire? When you know so much about the government and the government knows so much about you. Hardly not. This is a “small” book but once finished I wanted to reach toward the shelf for another. One serving of le Carré not enough for this lad.
Jellied eels? Thank you, no. Heathrow on a holiday. Thank you, no. England in general? Yes, please. I can’t imagine the life the author had, nor can I imagine owning a mile of coastline near Land’s End. When I brought him up in Goodreads it said “217 distinctive works.” Can you imagine. This, my friends, makes me giddy. I don’t know how many times I’ve searched books at the library and le Carré’s name came up. How many adapted films have I seen? Legend. Get it, read it.
Comments 19
DM, Thanks for this post. I also love LeCarre, but totally forgot about this book. I am going to get it now rather than go back to the Honourable Schoolboy, the Spy Who Came in From the Cold, and Tinker Tailor!
Author
So many good reads.
When I saw the title ‘Silverview’ I assumed it was an American reference. Like Silver lake or silver meadows ( see Todd Hido). But no, it was written by JLC. Here in Blighty, we are more used to village names Boggy Bottom or Nether Wallop.
Your description of England is very accurate, makes a change from fog and football hooligans. I’m happy you like England. I think you would be at home here, although the climate is as damp as yours is dry.
Espionage and romance are familiar bed fellows ( pun intended). The original films from John Le Carre’s books portray some great vistas of the old Eastern Europe. Thanks for the book recommendation, one for a fireside chair and large malt.
Author
Tweed. Barbour jackets, side by side shotguns, goings on at Bletchley. Stiff upper lip. Jellied eels.
Jellied eels are grim. Try pie and mash. Over and under 12 bore also available. Head north out of London for some real England.
Author
I’ve neven been north. Ever.
Tweed & Barbour were my staple attire until I moved down under. Now it’s boardies and thongs (flip-flops!!) and Tim Tams!!
Author
Oh GOD> TIMTAMS……
Le Carre is a gap in my reading, thought I did the The Spy Who Came In From The Cold audio book to help me drift off. I’ve read north of 100 books this year, but still no subtle spy drama. Need to fix that.
Author
That’s A LOT of books. I didn’t come close. I am reading another piece of fiction now. Will post when I’m done, it’s good.
I was watching reruns of The Young Ones last week. When I was a kid there was nothing else in the world to talk about other than The Young Ones the morning after. Apart from the comedy they used to drop random headline bands into the middle of the set.
Oops. That wasn’t supposed to happen. Sorry
Author
The humor was so different from anything we had. We did have Benny Hill, which was great, but the Young Ones felt like something for me.
Thanks for the recommendation. Took me a bit to get into the swing of it, but ended up liking it. Now I want to go to that bookstore, too. BTW, this is an interesting listen with Le Carre’s son, Nick. Imagine taking up THAT mantle https://open.spotify.com/episode/0EobZvmwc50PGXaMmDaYM0?si=6wunoXmPQEakwewdbm9dIA
Author
That’s a giant shoe to fill. Hey, you shoot music right?
Yep, sure do. On stage, but also portraits/album cover concepts/ marketing stuff for bands
Author
Cool. Might reach out to you in the coming weeks. Question for ya.
Le Carre is one of my buddies and my favorite authors. Most recent that is a bit of a psycholical mind bender is A Perfect Spy. Philip Roth said it was the best spy novel written since the war…so that carries some weight.
Author
That’s enough for me! Thank you!