Who knows the truth of the private life of spies?
His name was Fergus Andrew Mactavish and he was a framer in a remote part of Argyll. He went to his grave, unexposed, in 2003. At that simple ceremony of farewell, conducted under a West Highland sky filled with sharp, April light, only two of those present were aware of any claim that Fergus might have to be listed in the company of some of the century’s best-known spies. And those two would never speak about it. Never.
From a highly reluctant German spy who is drawn to an East Anglian nunnery as his only means of escape, to the strange tale of one of the Cambridge spy ring’s adventures with a Russian dwarf, these are Alexander McCall Smith’s intriguing and typically inventive stories from the world of espionage. Five tales, part fiction and part non-ficiton, The Private Life of Spies is a splendid, handsome volume.
‘Conradin Muller was an unusual spy. He was recruited in Hamburg in June 1943, much against his will, and sent on his first, and only, mission in late September that year. He failed to send a single report back to Germany, and when the war came to an end in May 1945, he fell to his knees and wept with relief…’
Praise for earlier works of short fiction by Alexander McCall Smith
‘Windows on the world… deft and funny and smart’ — Financial Times
‘Mighty of heart and the most wonderful gift for someone who would appreciate a smile or hug. Short and sharp, yet bountiful and considerate – fabulous’ — Lovereading.com
‘These stories are full of insight and empathy … Works of depth and beauty that would not be shamed in the company of the world’s greatest short stories’ — Sydney Morning Herald
‘Exquisitely funny… I can’t think of any other writer who could come up with anything like this, because as well as being among the funniest he has ever written, these stories are also moving, respectful and kind’ — The Scotsman
‘The stories are filled with the weight of real life… this collection is sure to delight both Smith fans and newcomers alike’ — Publishers Weekly
‘It is remarkably clever how, in just a few pages, he [Alexander McCall Smith] can create a complete little world’ — The Cultural Voyager
‘Charismatic and charming, convincingly demonstrates that length is by no means essential for a captivating read’ — Scottish Field
‘My most treasured possession is my bookcase filled with every book you have written. I have read them all and they have greatly contributed to the peace and tranquillity in my life’ — Reader Letter
‘Devilishly delightful’ — Books from Scotland
‘Perfect for those without the time, patience of inclination to pick up a novel’ — Sunday Post
‘Very enjoyable stories crafted by an expert storyteller. Written with humour and sensitivity about that flawed and insignificant species, Humanity’ — GoodReads.com
Reviews
