Analyses mid-twentieth century British spy thrillers as resistance to political oppression
Espionage and Exile demonstrates that from the 1930s through the Cold War British writers Eric Ambler, Helen MacInnes, John le Carré, Pamela Frankau and filmmaker Leslie Howard combine propaganda and popular entertainment to call for resistance to political oppression. Their spy fictions deploy themes of deception and betrayal to warn audiences of the consequences of Nazi Germany’s conquests and later, the fusion of Fascist and Communist oppression. With politically charged suspense and compelling plots and characters, these writers challenge distinctions between villain and victim and exile and belonging by dramatising relationships between stateless refugees, British agents, and most dramatically, between the ethics of espionage and responses to international crisis.
Contents
1. Eric Ambler: Espionage Chronicler of the 1930s
2. Double Agency: Women Writers of Espionage Fiction
3. Leslie Howard: Propaganda Artist
4. John le Carré’s Never Ending War of Exile
Conclusion
Bibliography.
About the Author
Reviews
Lassner offers a compelling case for recognizing the political and literary complexity of espionage fiction.
Lassner's central argument is original, productive, and persuasive...
Espionage and Exile is set to advance scholarship in the field of spy fiction. It is original, daring, carefully arranged and argued. Lassner offers a new understanding of espionage literature, one that moves interpretation far beyond the preoccupation with genre, formulae, masculinity, or realism.
This is a timely critical work in an age of resurgent fascist nationalisms. Scholars and students of modern British fiction and film will benefit from the ethical lines of questioning strongly established by Lassner throughout her oeuvre and which continue in this book.
While I can imagine scholars reading selectively, choosing one chapter or another for specific attention, the Conclusion shows how well the book works as a whole, and I would recommend it strongly.
...wide-ranging study of twentieth-century spy fiction.
Espionage and Exile is a perceptive and welcome addition to the field, especially in its movement away from the more familiar analytical approaches to the genre, and towards much-needed fresh ground.
...a valuable and interesting study, which amply succeeds in bringing to prominence the more subaltern figures of the genre – characters and authors.