Some novels excel in one area (character, plot, language and style, etc.) but some novels are great because they combine all these skills into a captivating whole. I would definitely put Spies into this later category. It can't be easily categorized or pigeonholed. In some ways it is a fictional memoir but in others it is a flashback mystery or maybe a reminiscence on youth and memory. It is at times a gripping novel of suspense while at others a thought-provoking rumination on the unique perspective of youth. In reality it is all these things and that makes for a great read.
The basic storyline follows two young boys in wartime Britain. The narrator, Stephen Wheatly, is flashing back to his childhood relationship with his neighbor Keith. Keith and his family are in a social class above Stephan and he is always painfully aware of how lucky he is to be able to interact with them. Because of this he gives Keith wide latitude in leading their playtime activities. Keith is always the instigator and inventor of their games and adventures. Stephen is content just to be the loyal sidekick. One particular adventure, however, start them down the path of no return. Events will soon alter their relationship and lives forever. It all started with Keith's confessions: "my mom is a German spy."
Soon all of Keith and Stephen's free time is devoted to investigating and uncovering the mystery behind Keith's mother's espionage. Trips to the store or the post; trips to her sisters down the road, notes in her diary, soon they are all pieces in a complicated puzzle; part of a game trapped between their imagination and their burgeoning sense of the real world beyond their small neighborhood. As the mystery unravels and the pace quickens, where this line between imagination and reality falls becomes cloudy. Stephan, looking back after 50 years, tries to figure out what he knew and when he knew it. The reader must attempt to makes sense of the story only with the material Frayn gives him. There are plenty of plot twists and turns to keep you guessing.
What makes this story so interesting is the tension Frayn creates. He does this in multiple ways. Like any good mystery writer (or at least one where the reader is kept in suspense) he artfully balances tantalizing details with vagueness and open questions. And just as you begin to fret he reveals more. In this way the basic mystery at the heart of the story pulls the reader forward. The action starts out slow but soon the tension is strong and you are pushing to get to the bottom of the mystery.
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Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Lucy
Excuse me but what is Lamorna? which is mentioned throughout the novel spies?
2 - katy
I think lamorna is a house name possibly??
3 - fausto
lamorna is the name of barbara berill's house were doing it for AS level
4 - hannah
no, i got confused about that too
but its actually the word for stephen's assosiation with love, it always comes up when hes talking to barbara berill or keith's mum.
5 - sian
Lamorna means both of the things as it is a scented word which sticks in the readers memory and is the name of Barbara Berill's house but is also assoiated with the feeling of affection for some one not really love because he is young, but we associated it with a crush on Barbara and Mrs Hayward. Lamora is mainly used in the novel because it is airy and sounds like a lutergous word which can endolve the reader.
6 - sian
is theur anyone who is able to agree with me saying that sheeny means a slang word for a jew, and also why is Mrs Hayward weariing a scarf around her neck?
7 - caroline higson
Hi. Yes, sheeny is a derogoratory name for a Jew and I believe I read in one review that the reason for Mrs Haywards scarf is to hide a scar. Keith imitates his father by cutting Ste in the throat and I think Keith's father has done the same to his wife.
8 - English AS class
Is there a film comming out of this?!?
9 - caroline higson
Hi. Yes, in an interview he said he was doing a screenplay. To be directed by his eldest daughter, Rebecca, and starring Kristin Scott Thomas.
10 - gemma
Hi, i'm studying this book for AS level and was just wondering if the film was coming out anytime soon? And if anyone knows if i could get hold of some york notes or revision notes for the book?
Thanx
11 - caroline higson
Hi. I'm doing it for AS as well. I can't find any details of the movie coming out any time soon on imdb.com and the interview where he said he was doing the screenplay was 2005, so we will have probably done our A Levels before the film comes out! I haven't been able to find anything on the book either, no study guides like York notes, but I find reading reviews helpful (e.g daily mail book review,amazon.co.uk customer reviews), they often have insights you may have missed and offer critisms which you can use for essays. The only study guide I can find is for teachers, by the English and Media Centre (EMC). It also comes with a 30 mins DVD interview with Frayn. However, as it is mostly for teachers, there's lots of "do this with the class" stuff and "read the next section aloud and do things in groups of 3" and and I think it's aimed more at Yr 9's, not A Level from the tasks. It does ofer a ideas in some places and suggestions about themes, but not at all worth the £65 they charge! Caroline
12 - Becky
hi ... im studying spies for as and im finiding it really difficult to find any internet notes or books to help me ... ne1 have ne suggestions?
13 - Robert Swan
Good news for several recent correspondents: I have been commissioned to write a study guide for Spies by the publishers Philip Allan Updates. It is likely to be published in the spring or early summer of 2006, before you take the AS exams! I may be able to email sample sections later in the year.
Robert Swan
14 - caroline higson
That is good news! Sian, about Mrs Hayward wearing a scarf round her neck: pg 211 half way down: "I suddenly realise where he learnt to practicse this particular form of torture with this particular instrument, and why his mother, in the heat of the summer, has taken to wearing that cravat pinned high around her neck."
15 - Glen
This book is the best anaesthetic, it puts me to sleep every night as its so boring
16 - Lauren
i see from a couple of comments above theres going to be a study guide out in early summer..
..but this really doesnt help me as im doing my exam in JANUARY *pannics*
can anyone suggest any good websites for info or criticisms on Spies?
17 - tanya
hey,is anyone getin confused over which person da novel is written in or is it just me?some bits when stephen is talking it sounds more like stefan,i get so confused.
18 - Bianca
Hi duz ne1 hav an idea why stephen has a thing about germs? thanks
19 - Tori
ur never told why stephen has a thing about germs. maybe he has a disorder? he has a thing about his ears i know that. i bet the film won't come out for centuries! just my luck eh?!
20 - katie
mrs h is wearing the scarf around her neck because mr.h was cutting her neck just like keith done to stephen.
21 - Sarah
hi, about the germ thing - i am studying this for AS aswell and i think it's something that his mother has always taught him (about germs being bad) and he has become slightly obsessed, also we had a guest speaker, and he mentioned some obscure link to the word German - Stephen fears both.
22 - Sophie
The revision guide sounds good, the only problem is that we are taking the a.s exam in january 2006! i am struggling to find any revision notes on spies and im just wondering if anything will be out ot help us before then!
thanx
sophie
xx
23 - Carla
Hiya, i'm also doing my exam in January...this book is so hard to revise for, i have no idea what to do, someone must have wrote a revision guide right!? i'll pay them lots!...carla!
24 - rebecca
BTW people don't use york notes, apparently its the worst for this book.
25 - James H
whats the deal with the paradoxial setting!?