With its nuanced portrayal of the nature of espionage—in all its contradictions—the fourth in John le Carré's George Smiley series is a compelling spy tale that brings the dangers of nostalgia front and center.
The Looking Glass War follows the Circus' foil in the British intelligence community: the Department.
In years past, the “Circus” oversaw political matters while their counterpart, the Department, dealt with intelligence more military in nature. These days, however, the Circus' influence looms large, while the Department is relegated to the doldrums of bureaucracy and red tape.
With the Cold War at a fever pitch, though, a potential assignment is only ever one defector–turned–informant away. Alerted to the possibility of missile activity from the Soviets on the West German border, the long stagnant Department leaps at the chance to restore some of their caché in the intelligence community.
Director Leclerc hunts down former field agent Fred Leiser and sends him beyond the wall to East Germany—tying the Department's fate to his.
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“John Le Carré dominates the espionage form as no other writer has since Eric Ambler was at his peak.”
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Kirkus Reviews (starred review)