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Content snapshot
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Violence
Some
Deaths; a man abandoned in enemy territory
Language
Barely any
Mild language
Sexual Content
Barely any
Brief sexual content
Substance Use
None
No substance use
Emotional Intensity
A lot
Themes of institutional failure, bureaucratic self-deception, and the expendable human
What this book is about
Le Carré's 1965 novel follows the Circus's rival department as it recruits a Polish immigrant to enter East Germany on a mission that everyone suspects will fail. One of le Carré's bleakest books: no heroes, no victories, just institutional vanity and a man's pointless death. For adults.
Notes for sensitive readers
Reader-flagged moments and themes that may affect your experience.
Espionage violence
Bleak outcomes
Reader Verification
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