Jesse Kornbluth reviews John le Carre’s new novel, Our Kind of Traitor.

Kornbluth explains that le Carre tells an exciting story but he is also explaining how the world works. Many of the great progressive authors of the tens and twenties put their toughest writing into novels, for instance, Upton Sinclair’s The Jungle. He suspects that le Carre is writing in this tradition.

Here’s a quote from Kornbluth’s review.

Of all of le Carré’s novels, this is the one that makes me feel like a child. I mean, I know we’re all under surveillance now. Photographed often. Every keystroke, every e-mail, every Tweet saved — illegally, but saved. At any moment, the President can declare an American citizen an enemy combatant, a threat to the security of the Republic, and without judicial review or formal charge, he can order that American to be killed. But although I know all that, I hadn’t quite realized that when large amounts of money are involved, none of the old words — honor, truth, empathy — matter at all.

Here’s the trailer for the book(as if it were a movie).

Here’s John le Carre, himself, reading a selection from the book –

I’m a big fan of le Carre. I hope you are too. I have no doubt that the book is worth your time. Le Carre is insightful and clever – good writing.

James Pilant