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A Perfect Spy

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About this listen

 Magnus Pym, Counsellor at the British Embassy, is hosting a dinner party at his home in Vienna when he receives an unexpected telephone call that will profoundly affect his life. Once the guests have gone, Pym breaks the news to his wife, Mary: his father, Rick, is dead. In a state of shock, he says something Mary cannot understand - 'After all these years, I'm free.' Magnus flies back to England to attend the funeral - and doesn't return. As Mary and MI6 spymaster Jack Brotherhood desperately try to find out his whereabouts, it soon becomes clear that Pym has been keeping secrets from both his family and his employers, the British Intelligence Service. Hiding out in a remote cottage in Devon, where he goes by the name of Mr Canterbury, Magnus begins to write his memoirs - retracing his rise and fall and revealing how Rick led him step by step into a double life of deception, broken promises and betrayal... This recording, adapted from the John le Carré novel by Rene Basilico, was believed lost from the BBC archive, but was rediscovered after almost twenty years and restored. Entertainment & Performing Arts Mystery Entertainment Adaptation
All stars
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I’ve listened to the end of part 4 expecting it to pick up - I can’t realistically listen any more. If this is the ‘dramatised’ version I just can’t imagine what the undramatised would be like. Does adapting a novel for radio involve sucking the life out of a story?

Tediously boring listen

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It was a great production. All the actors were great especially James Fox and Julian Rhind Tutt. Very much recommend it.

Great Production.

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A brilliant adaptation of the book by the BBC. First class performances of the characters and the times. As with many John le Carre books, the ending is not always what you think it's going to be. Occasionally, I find the ending unsatisfactory....

Brilliant adaptation.

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Old classic, great to hear again without having to wrestle a doorstep book in the bath. Still enjoyable.

old classic

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Very well edited with a very talented cast. A great way to enjoy the novel

Really evokes the mood of the Carre classic

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