Available Copies from Independent Booksellers
John le Carré. A Perfect Spy Signed John le Carré. Hodder & Stoughton, UK, 1986.
Price: US$213.21 + shipping
Condition: Fine
Description: A Perfect Spy Signed by John le Carré First Edition Hodder & Stoughton 1986. No previous owner's name inscriptions or marks. Contents and edges are free of foxing. Covers are fine, bright and completely unblemished. In a near fine dust jacket with no tears or loss. Not price clipped. SIGNED BY THE AUTHOR by way of decorative bookplate on half title page. A Perfect Spy is a complex and deeply introspective novel by John le Carré that delves into the life of Magnus Pym, a British intelligence officer who is torn between his loyalty to his country and his moral compass. The novel spans over five decades, from the 1930s to the 1980s, and traces Pym's tumultuous journey from his childhood in a dysfunctional family to his rise and fall in the shadowy world of espionage. Central to the novel is the relationship between Pym and his enigmatic father, Rick Pym, a charismatic and manipulative figure who introduces his son to the world of espionage. Rick's influence shapes Pym's perception of loyalty and duty, leading him to adopt a life of deception and double-dealing. As Pym moves through various intelligence roles, he becomes increasingly disillusioned with the moral compromises required in the espionage game. His conscience struggles against the demands of his profession, and he grapples with the question of whether it is possible to remain true to oneself while operating in such a treacherous world. The novel's exploration of Pym's moral dilemmas is interwoven with a broader commentary on the nature of espionage and the blurred lines between truth and deception. le Carré deftly exposes the hypocrisy and manipulation that often lie beneath the façade of intelligence agencies, while also acknowledging the real dangers and sacrifices inherent in the profession. A Perfect Spy is a masterfully crafted novel that offers a profound and unsettling examination of identity, loyalty, and the moral complexities of espionage. It is a story that lingers long after the final page, leaving readers to ponder the enduring question of what it truly means to be a "perfect spy."
Seller: Brought to Book Ltd, London, United Kingdom
Le Carré, John. A Perfect Spy. Hodder & Stoughton, 1986.
Price: US$226.13 + shipping
Condition: As New
Description: A splendid Le Carre rarity: a flat signed 1st edition copy of this fine 1986 novel in almost perfect condition. Hardcover condition: near fine. Dust Jacket condition: near fine. Flat signed first UK edition 2nd impression February 1986. A near fine book-- no toning to block and no hints of rubbing at spine ends BUT there is a smudge to bottom of page block edge (see photo). In a near fine unclipped jacket. Large octavo in blue boards with blue cloth spine, pictorial jacket, 463 pages. Signed by Author. In removable protective plastic sleeve. A really excellent copy. We pack our books properly and ship daily from the UK
Seller: Cheerleader Productions Ltd, Cheltenham, GLOS, United Kingdom
John le Carré. A Perfect Spy Signed John le Carré. Hodder & Stoughton, UK, 1986.
Price: US$323.04 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: A Perfect Spy Signed by John le Carré First Edition Hodder & Stoughton 1986. No previous owner's inscriptions or marks. A VG+ copy that's unblemished throughout. In a fine dust jacket. Not price clipped and with no creasing or tears. SIGNED BY THE AUTHOR directly to title page without dedication.
Seller: Brought to Book Ltd, London, United Kingdom
Price: US$355.35 + shipping
Description: A first edition, first printing published by Hodder and Stoughton in 1986. A near fine book - without inscriptions (with spotting to the top edge) SIGNED by the Author to the title page in a near fine unclipped wrapper with some small wear to extremities. A psychological thriller delving into the complex life of Magnus Pym, a British intelligence officer, and his journey of betrayal, identity, and espionage. The novel explores themes of loyalty, father-son relationships, and the blurred lines between truth and deception. Through masterful storytelling, le Carré crafts a gripping narrative that immerses readers into the murky world of espionage, leaving them questioning the nature of loyalty and the depths of human complexity.
Seller: John Atkinson Books ABA ILAB PBFA, Harrogate, United Kingdom
Le Carre, John LeCarre, John. A Perfect Spy. Hodder and Stoughton, London, 1986.
Price: US$439.00 + shipping
Description: SIGNED BY THE AUTHOR on a special, decorative bookplate. AN EXTREMELY CLEAN, ATTRACTIVE COPY WITH A BRIGHT, BEAUTIFUL DUSTJACKET IN NEW, GLOSSY BRODART. NO PREVIOUS OWNER MARKINGS. NOT price clipped. TRUE FIRST PRINTING. HANDSOME, COLLECTIBLE COPY!
Seller: Books Plus, LLC, Lexington, SC, U.S.A.
John le Carré. A Perfect Spy Signed John le Carré. Hodder & Stoughton, UK, 1986.
Price: US$452.26 + shipping
Condition: Fine
Description: A Perfect Spy Signed by John le Carré First Edition Hodder & Stoughton 1986. A fine copy that appears unread. No previous owner's inscriptions or marks, contents and edges clean and unblemished. Covers without bumping or rubbing. In a fine dust jacket with no creasing, tears or loss and not price clipped. SIGNED BY THE AUTHOR directly to title page without dedication.
Seller: Brought to Book Ltd, London, United Kingdom
John le Carré. A Perfect Spy Signed John le Carré. Hodder & Stoughton, UK, 1986.
Price: US$484.56 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: A Perfect Spy Signed by John le Carré First Limited Edition Hodder & Stoughton 1986. No. 41 of 250. Internally clean and unblemished throughout. No previous owner's inscriptions and no foxing or toning. Covers are VG with a light stain to bottom corner of front cover and similar mark to lower edge of back cover. SIGNED BY THE AUTHOR directly to title page without dedication.
Seller: Brought to Book Ltd, London, United Kingdom
John le Carré. A Perfect Spy Signed John le Carré. Hodder & Stoughton, UK, 1986.
Price: US$581.48 + shipping
Condition: Fine
Description: A Perfect Spy Signed by John le Carré First Limited Edition Hodder & Stoughton 1986. Number 59 of only 250 copies. Fine and appearing unread. No signs of any previous ownership and both contents and edges free of foxing or toning. Covers are bright and unmarked and have no bumping or rubbing to corners. In original glassine wrapper that has no tears or loss. SIGNED BY THE AUTHOR without dedication. "A Perfect Spy" by John le Carré is a novel that explores the life of Magnus Pym, a successful British spy who is also a master of deception. The novel is structured as a series of flashbacks and explores Pym's complicated relationship with his father, a con man and criminal who taught him the art of deceit from a young age. As Pym's personal and professional lives begin to collide, he embarks on a dangerous journey that takes him from the world of espionage to the criminal underworld. The novel is known for its complex characters, intricate plot, and examination of the blurred lines between truth and deception. It is widely regarded as one of le Carré's finest works.
Seller: Brought to Book Ltd, London, United Kingdom
John Le Carre. A Perfect Spy. Hodder & Stoughton, London, 1986.
Price: US$2519.74 + shipping
Condition: Near Fine
Description: An unique signed set of John Le Carre's novel 'The Perfect Spy' Comprising a first edition, fourth impression and an uncorrected proof of the same novel. With association to television adaptations of Le Carre's works. The first edition fourth impression has the original dustwrapper, which is price clipped. An amended price sticker is to the front flyleaf. To the dedication leaf John Le Carre has signed this work to Dudley Sutton, 'with affection on his 60th. John Le Carre, alias David'. Dudley Sutton plated Kirov in the television adaptation of Le Carre's novel 'Smiley's People'.Loosely inserted to the proof of 'A Perfect Spy' is Peter Egan's signature. Egan played Magnus Pym in the television adaptation of this novel. A BBC photograph of Egan as Magnus Pym and Ray McAnaly as Rick Pym is loosely inserted too with a press release to the reverse. Loosely inserted is a review of the novel which questions if Le Carre is a spy as there is 'so much astonishing autobiography in his new book 'A Perfect Spy'. The proof is in its original scarce dustwrapper.'A Perfect Spy' deals with the mental and moral dissolution of a high level secret service agent, and puts a spotlight on the intricacies of international espionage.A fascinating association, with relation to the very highly regarded television production of Le Carre's novel. In the publisher's original bindings. Both the proof and book publication have the original dustwrappers. Externally, smart. A few spots to the proof. Dustwrappers are generally smart. Light shelfwear to the edges. Rubbing to the extremities of the proof to 'A Perfect Spy'. Internally, firmly bound. Author's inscription to the dedication leaf of the novel. Pages are bright. Just the odd spot. Dustwrapper for the proof is Very Good Indeed. Near Fine
Seller: Rooke Books PBFA, Bath, United Kingdom