The Secret Pilgrim

About “The Secret Pilgrim”

The Secret Pilgrim is a 1990 novel by John le Carré, structured as an informal dinner conversation at a spy-training school in Sarratt. The story is told through the perspective of an unnamed narrator called "Ned," who reflects on his long career in the intelligence service. The novel is episodic, with each segment triggered by comments from George Smiley, another character in the conversation. These memories reveal Ned’s experiences and personal growth over time, tracing his career from its beginning to his retirement. The book offers a reflective look at the life of a spy through a series of interconnected stories. (Summary adapted from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.)