| Record Number |
900818 |
| ISBN |
9780593683859 (hardback : paperback) |
| Author |
McCall Smith, Alexander, 1948- author. |
| Title |
The private life of spies ; and, The exquisite art of getting even / Alexander McCall Smith. |
| Edition |
Large print edition. |
| Publisher/Date |
New York : Random House Large Print, [2023] |
| ©2022. |
| Pagination etc. |
vi, 451 pages (large print) ; 24 cm. |
| Contents note |
"Originally published in hardcover in two volumes in Great Britain as The exquisite art of getting even by Polygon Books... in 2022, and The private life of shadows by Abacus... in 2023" -- Colophon. |
| The Private Life of Spies -- The Exquisite Art of Getting Even. |
| Summary Note |
The private life of spies -- During WW2 there was a rumour that German spies were landing by parachute in Britain, dressed as nuns... 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. 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. |
| The exquisite art of getting even -- The characters in this delightful book are pushed to the point of no return and seek retribution. But how we get even is not always the best road to redemption. On the island of Mull, it takes an incomer to make the locals realise that they need to take matters into their own hands to maintain the community's reputation. In 'The Principles of Soap' the value of friendship overcomes adversity and opportunistic nepotism. In suburban Edinburgh opposing neighbours find out the hard way that the best way to deal with a canine disturbance is not to bury one's head in the sand. And in the final tale we meet an author on the brink of public ruin who sees the error of his ways after an act of kindness saves the day. These four tales show that the exquisite art of getting even is a skill that sees kindness win over malice. Tantalising and amusing, these stories show off a darker side but carry with them the author's trademark warmth and humour. |
| Subject |
Intelligence officers -- Fiction |
| Revenge -- Fiction |
| Secret service -- Fiction |
| Interpersonal relations -- Fiction |
| Short stories. |
| Spy fiction. |
| Humorous fiction. |
| Large type books. |
| Added Author |
McCall Smith, Alexander, 1948- Private life of shadows. |
| McCall Smith, Alexander, 1948- Exquisite art of getting even. |
| Shelf Location |
LP MACC |
