Spies by Michael Frayn
| Spies by Michael Frayn | |
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| Category: Literary Fiction | |
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Reviewer: Andy Moth
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| Summary: Spies follows the main protagonist, Stephen, as he relives the tale of his childhood during the Second World War. Frayn challenges stereotypes throughout the novel, which has a sound plot line and attention to detail. | |
| Buy? Yes | Borrow? Yes |
| Pages: 240 | Date: January 2003 |
| Publisher: Faber | |
| ISBN: 0571212964 | |
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Spies follows the main protagonist, Stephen, as he relives the tale of his childhood during the Second World War. The novel starts with the present day Stephen trying to piece together his identity and how his childhood shaped his current self. In order to do this, he recalls the harrowing tale of growing up and his acute feeling of not belonging in the perfect close. The main feature of the book if Frayn's use of the dual-narrative style of writing, which uses the modern day Stephen, and his former self to tell the story, as we delve into the depths of his memory as is it was present day. I really like this about Frayn's writing as it allows Frayn to really accentuate the details of the events that happened in Stephen's childhood.
Stephen's tale of being a child in suburban England really portrays the struggle that every child feels as they are forced to grow up in a world full of challenge and peril. Stephen and his friend Keith enjoy a relationship that is not entirely equal - Keith is from a fairly affluent family, and thus assumes the dominant role in the friendship, although Frayn hints that, although the odds are against Stephen, he is actually the more intelligent and well rounded individual but is bound by the social constraints of the era. When Keith utters the words My mother is a German spy the boys' worlds are thrown upside down as they embark on a mission of espionage and trickery, but what they discover is something much, much darker and threatens the whole social hierarchy of the Close.
Frayn's novel is full of intrigue and mystery and is well worth a read for anyone who wants a fast paced story; although some readers may be put off as the use of the dual narrative as it is sometimes a little tricky to follow. However I feel that this is the main strength of the book and requires only a little concentration to keep abreast of the plot.
Frayn challenges stereotypes throughout the novel, starting with the stereotypical "higher class" of family that is represented by Keith and his parents, as well as the rougher, more "working class" family which is represented by Stephen's family. The main plot line of everyone having secrets allows Frayn to challenge the "perfect" personae of some members of the Close, which just reinforces his message of challenging stereotypes.
All in all, Frayn has produced a well-written novel, which I would give a well-deserved 4 out of 5 for its sound plot line and attention to detail - for example his reference to historical events to add to the sense of realism, and the use of senses to make the transfer between the older Stephen to the younger seamless.
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