The Secret Pilgrim

By John le Carré

First UK edition, first impression: London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1991.

Signed and inscribed by the author on the title page, “for David”, and signed beneath the printed author’s name, which he has struck through.

Original dark blue cloth, the spine lettered in gilt. In the original unclipped dust jacket, priced £14.95 net in UK on the front flap, the front panel in bands of blue, yellow and red divided by torn edges, the lower panel carrying the Douglas Brothers’ photograph of the author.

A fine copy, with a touch of rubbing to the bottom edges, the boards and contents both nice and clean.

The dust jacket near fine and unclipped, with minor wear to the spine head.

The novel is narrated by Ned, of "The Russia House", who at the close of his career is training the next generation of recruits and invites George Smiley as guest of honour to their passing-out dinner; the evening sets off a journey through his own life, from recruitment to imminent retirement. It was Smiley’s last appearance in le Carré’s fiction until "A Legacy of Spies" in 2017.