"The Spy Who Came in from the Cold" has been publicized as the greatest work of spy fiction ever written and also John Le Carre's greatest novel. Le Carre told the story of Alec Leamus, the British agent who is ultimately double-crossed by his own side, with clarity and distinction, not an easy task. Espionage novels are generally difficult to read, and I assume, even more difficult to write. The plots must be very carefully …showed first 75 words of 488 total…

…showed last 75 words of 488 total…on the western side yelling at him to jump. He hesitates only a second before climbing back down the side he came and standing next to Liz, waiting for the shots. Leamus was used and destroyed by his superiors. It is rare that the main character of a book is killed in the end, but by ending it this way, Le Carre cements the reality of this time period and the authenticity of his novel.