A review by cnorbury
The Honourable Schoolboy, by John le Carré
4.0
This is a great book although I can't say it was "amazing" and give it 5 stars. The chief reason is it's a very dense book full of characters, settings, spy jargon, and British vernacular and colloquialisms that are a challenge for non-Brits to understand. So, while I enjoyed the book for many reasons, it was a challenge to maintain my attention and wade through it until the end.
That said, Jerry Westerby (The Honourable Schoolboy) is a thoroughly likable and believable character well developed, full of flaws and weaknesses (booze and women), street smarts, and determination to do his job. To me, he also carried a little guilt for being part of Britain's upper class. I felt it when he was operating in Hong Kong, at the time a British colony and a manifestation of what the British upper class had done to suppress and exploit millions (billions?) of people around the world in pursuit of empire.
Far from a lighthearted, easy read, but if you want an example of an author with a complete mastery of his craft, read John LeCarre.
That said, Jerry Westerby (The Honourable Schoolboy) is a thoroughly likable and believable character well developed, full of flaws and weaknesses (booze and women), street smarts, and determination to do his job. To me, he also carried a little guilt for being part of Britain's upper class. I felt it when he was operating in Hong Kong, at the time a British colony and a manifestation of what the British upper class had done to suppress and exploit millions (billions?) of people around the world in pursuit of empire.
Far from a lighthearted, easy read, but if you want an example of an author with a complete mastery of his craft, read John LeCarre.