This is an ok book. I thought I would like it a lot more because I really like spies. It lacked action. It was ok and all, just not for me. ( )

Wow, really liked this one. Classic twisting, turning spy novel that makes you think you have it all figured out, but changes on you at the very end. Great read. ( )

I've heard this described as the greatest spy novel ever, and since I've recently taken a liking to spy novels, I was anxious to read this one. The book was published in 1963, the height of the the cold war, and the story takes place at about the same time. Alec Leamas is a British spy serving in Berlin who returns to London after another of his operatives is killed, this one while crossing the checkpoint at the Berlin Wall. Once back in London, Alec is given a desk job in the banking section, then dismissed after an irregularity is discovered in the accounts. He is a failure at civilian life, not able to keep a job, falling behind on his bills, and finally ending up in jail after assaulting a shop keeper. On the day he is released from prison, he is approached and recruited back into "service".

This book is much different than the more modern novels I've been reading, leaving quite a lot unsaid, even at the end. I felt like I never quite knew what was going on - there was layer upon layer of deception, and it was impossible to tell what the truth was. Even in Alec's first person thoughts, I couldn't be sure whether he was lying or "telling" the truth. I'd like read more by the author, and other authors from the time, before deciding whether I like them as well as more recent books. ( )

I have never before read a "spy novel," so I thought I'd try this classic of the genre, which I believe is also listed in '1001 Novels you must Read before you Die.' Set in the 1960's spying network East vs. West, the Berlin Wall and all that. Alec Leamas is a British spy on his last mission before he comes in from the cold.

I thought it was OK. I admit, I was a bit confused as to what exactly was going on and sometimes I wasn't sure if it was because of my ignorance of the time period and the intricacies of the intelligence community or was I supposed to be confused? In the end, however, I think I had sufficient grasp of what was going on. Although on the whole, the novella kept my interest - it really didn't blow me away.

I thought the writing was pedestrian, and some of the ostensibly emotional conversations between Leamas and Liz, as well as between he and Fiedler just fell flat for me. Perhaps because times have changed so much with the fall of Communism - the impact just wasn't there. Alot of typos in this edition as well.

Overall, entertaining but a bit dated and did not inspire me to read more of Le Carre or of the espionage genre as a whole. ( )

The novel that brought John Le Carre to the international spotlight, The Spy Who Came in From the Cold is one of the best spy novels ever written. With its realistic portrayal of espionage (not always at its finest) and Le Carre's own experience contributing, this is a must read.

The story of veteran spy and Berlin section chief Alec Leamas' last operation starts with his supposed punishment and demotion to a low level clerical job and builds up to alcoholism and 30 days in jail for assault before being "recruited" by an East German team as a double agent.

Leamas' (and his superiors') true motives though are to take down Mundt, the high-ranking official in the Abteilung (East German Intelligence) responsible for the death of every single double agent handled by Leamas.

The novel moves along swiftly, with many twists to keep readers intrigued and make the operation even more mysterious. And with arguably one of the most powerful final scenes in literary history, this gritty and realistic look at the world of Cold War espionage is a definite must read that I would recommend to every one looking for a cerebral thriller or what Graham Greene called, "The best spy novel I have ever read." ( )