Michael Jago

The character of Smiley as invented by Le Carre was actually based on the real life MI5 agent John Bingham. In this book Jago takes you through his life history and career.

He was a heir to an Irish barony. In his early life he attended Cheltenham School, rather than Eton as the family was a little hard up. He didn't attend university, and wanted to join the colonial service, but didn't do well at the interview. They suggested that he learnt another language so ended up in France staying at a chateau and in other parts of Europe. This was at the time of the rise of the far right in Germany, and it formed part of his political awakening, On return he became a journalist and became fairly proficient at this. At the outbreak of WWII he asked to join the the intelligence services, and was accepted.

He played a vital role whilst there, and was involved in the double cross deception, and then spent time in Germany after. He retuned to journalism after. But felt the need to return to the intelligence services again. The is where he met David Cornwell. He run a number of spies and contacts and was described as the forgettably man, as he had the ability to vanish in a crowd. As well as that he was a proficient author, and published a number of detective books and the odd spy fiction.

The beginning part of the book drags quite a lot, as Jago goes into his extensive family history from 1100. As the book progresses it does get more interesting. There is quite a lot about the resentment that Bingham's wife felt towards Le Carre as he had more success with his books. But Bingham didn't seem to mind.

Overall it was ok, more 2.5 stars than three, and an interesting story of the man behind one of fictions most famous spies.… (meer)