The Spy Who Came in from the Cold

Apr 25, 2025 10:40 AM

Author:John le Carré

The classic Cold War thriller, published as a Penguin Essential for the first time.

Alec Leamas is tired. It's the 1960s, he's been out in the cold for years, spying in Berlin for his British masters, and has seen too many good agents murdered for their troubles. Now Control wants to bring him in at last - but only after one final assignment.

He must travel deep into the heart of Communist Germany and betray his country, a job that he will do with his usual cynical professionalism. But when George Smiley tries to help a young woman Leamas has befriended, Leamas's mission may prove to be the worst thing he could ever have done.

In le Carré's breakthrough work of 1963, the spy story is reborn as a gritty and terrible tale of men who are caught up in politics beyond their imagining.

'Superbly constructed, with an atmosphere of chilly hell' J.B. Priestley

'The best spy story I have ever read' Graham Greene

'The master storyteller ... has lost none of his cunning' A. N. Wilson

'I have re-read The Spy Who Came In From The Cold over and over again since I first encountered it in my teens, just to remind myself how extraordinary a work of fiction can be' Malcolm Gladwell

'One of those very rare novels that changes the way you look at the world. Unflinching, highly sophisticated, superb' William Boyd

Reviews

Passionate, intense, wonderful

—— David Nicholls

The best spy story I have ever read

—— Graham Greene

A masterpiece, the best espionage novel ever written

—— John Banville

One of those writers who will be read a century from now

—— Robert Harris

Grippingly claustrophobic and unpredictable on every page: perfect for fans of The Girl on the Train

—— Marie Claire

Tension oozes from every page . . . an addictive read that will leave you on the edge of your seat

—— Sun

As soon as I finished the first page, I knew I wouldn't be able to put this down . . . I thoroughly enjoyed it

—— Good Housekeeping

Unforgettably dark and complex

—— Woman & Home

Praise for Last Seen Alive

—— -

This stunning new release from Claire Douglas is packed with a killer twist

—— Closer

Thrillingly tense and twisty, a great read

—— B. A. Paris

A heart-thumping psychological mystery that ticks all the boxes . . . with twists galore, it's impossible to guess the shocking ending

—— Saga

Fast-paced and chock-full of twists, Last Seen Alive is both absorbing and gripping. After reading it you'll never dream of a house swap again

—— Paula Daly

Thrilling . . . superb plotting. I could hardly catch my breath between twists!

—— Jenny Blackhurst

It's so twisty, turning and grippy. Highly recommend it!

—— Gilly Macmillan

I love stories where you're not quite sure who is telling the truth! This one kept me guessing

—— Jane Corry

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