Granta 35: An Unbearable Peace

The keynote piece here is by famous spy novelist John le Carré taking on the journalist role and profiling an elderly Swiss Army officer convicted of passing military secrets to the Russians. Although decently written, the former officer is less than compelling and so is the article. This is followed by four more pieces on Switzerland, only one of which is interesting. The issue also contains two articles about the unification of Germany and a manipulative "love" story by Nadine Gordimer.
The one shining star is Jayne Anne Phillips' long, lovely story "In Summer Camps." Poetic, dream-like, and lusciously descriptive, it evolved into her novel, "Shelter." Also worth a mention is Allan Gurganus's great little travel memoir of a trip to a show more Civil War battlefield where his great-grandfathers fought on opposite sides.
All in all, an issue highlighting Switzerland that's like Switzerland itself--kinda boring. show less