Le Carré's Landscape by Tod Hoffman
Finalist for The Mavis Gallant Prize for Non-Fiction in 2002
The reality of espionage isn’t easily disentangled from its mythology – and somewhere at the uneasy confluence of these dimensions is the fiction of John Le Carré. A former British intelligence officer, Le Carré has captured the shadows and textures of the covert world with a sure eye for its nuances and a deep appreciation of the human factor. And while intelligence work may be far removed from the experiences of most of us, its grand themes – loyalty and betrayal – touch everyone.
In Le Carré’s Landscape Tod Hoffman, a former intelligence officer, offers a unique perspective on Le Carré’s work. He juxtaposes his own experiences and extensive research with Le Carré’s fiction, shedding light on those dank recesses where spying is done. Taking the reader through the countries and continents of Le Carré’s fiction, Hoffman reflects on the political causes and personal effect of spying – secrecy, manipulation, deceit, treason.
Le Carré’s Landscape is a unique look at the master of the spy genre – a man who has captured the imaginations of millions of readers and perhaps enticed more than a few into the real world of espionage.
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