Our Kind of Traitor, by John le Carré (read in the spring/summer 2011)

Not one of his best, even of the post-Cold War era novels. Nevertheless it still has that characteristic brooding feel that all le Carré novels have – that sense, mostly real, that much is lurking beneath the surface and you’re going to have to stick around for some time before you are afforded a glimmer. Russian thieves, on a grand scale, intermixed with international bankers and English politicians. It leaves that funny taste in your mouth at the end, not whole satisfied with the outcome and a bit afraid and sad – is that a reflection of our fear that our world is truly as he portrays? Or just what it might become? If you are a veteran le Carré reader, it’s worth the effort (barely). If you are new to his work, you might try something more substantive like the George Smiley books (Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy or the Honourable Schoolboy) or even one of my favorites, A Small Town in Germany or the psychologically dense A Perfect Spy. Of his post-cold war era novels, Single and Single stands out as does Absolute Friends. There are many more goodies out there. He really is one of my favorite writers, carrying on the rich tradition of English spy novelists led by Conrad (The Secret Agent – I know, Conrad was Polish, but who cares) and Graham Greene (The Human Factor, among others).