Set in 1970s London, Legacy is a spy novel by English author Alan Judd. Published in 2001 it continues the story of Charles Thoroughgood, first introduced in his debut novel, A Breed of Heroes, published 20 years earlier. British historian Peter Hennessy described it as 'one of the best spy novels ever'.[1]
Living in Queensway, London, Charles Thoroughgood has now left the Army and has enrolled with MI6. While he is undergoing basic training in espionage techniques he is asked to make contact with Victor Koslov, whom he knew briefly at Oxford University before he joined the Army. Victor is now a liaison officer attached to the Soviet Embassy and has been spotted visiting a prostitute. Thoroughgood arranges a "chance" meeting, but Victor tells him that Thoroughgood's father (now dead) was a Soviet spy. Thoroughgood reports back to his mentors, who confirm that it may be true. They also suspect that his father may have been involved in Operation Legacy, the creation of a network of secret caches hidden by the KGB in strategic locations in western countries. Thoroughgood manages to locate one such cache near his childhood home in Beaconsfield. At the conclusion of the book another cache is found in Southwold, near the Sizewell nuclear power stations.
Reception
Kirkus Reviews is positive, "a twisty, accomplished, and engaging Cold War thriller", finishing with "The conclusion plays out a bit too neatly, but, still: savory, cozy, nicely textured, and very British"[2]
The Daily Telegraph agrees, "Employing a number of intricate and entertaining twists, Legacy takes us back to John le Carré and the golden age of spy novels. This is a secret service run by avuncular civil servants who commute from Kent and Surrey, spend the weekends digging their gardens, and, in the sleepy and indirect manner of well-clubbed gentlemen, play brilliant endgames that protect us against enemies without and within".[3]
Joanne Ahern writing for RTÉ.ie says: "Although award-winning author Alan Judd spins a wholly believable and interesting tale the book is terribly slow-moving in places and Thoroughgood, like his name, is not a very exciting character. However, the book is redeemed by its surprise ending."[4]
Publication history
2001, UK, HarperCollins, ISBN0-00-225940-0, Pub date 17 Sep 2001, Hardback
2002, UK, Isis, ISBN0-7531-1496-8, Pub date Jun 2002, Audio Cassette
2002, UK, HarperCollins, ISBN0-00-651356-5, Pub date 21 Oct 2002, Paperback
legacy, judd, novel, 1970s, london, legacy, novel, english, author, alan, judd, published, 2001, continues, story, charles, thoroughgood, first, introduced, debut, novel, breed, heroes, published, years, earlier, british, historian, peter, hennessy, described,. Set in 1970s London Legacy is a spy novel by English author Alan Judd Published in 2001 it continues the story of Charles Thoroughgood first introduced in his debut novel A Breed of Heroes published 20 years earlier British historian Peter Hennessy described it as one of the best spy novels ever 1 LegacyFirst editionAuthorAlan JuddCountryUnited KingdomLanguageEnglishPublisherHarperCollinsPublication dateSep 2001Media typePrintPages320ISBN0 002 25940 0Preceded byA Breed of Heroes Followed byUncommon Enemy Contents 1 Plot Introduction 2 Reception 3 Publication history 4 Television adaptation 5 ReferencesPlot Introduction EditLiving in Queensway London Charles Thoroughgood has now left the Army and has enrolled with MI6 While he is undergoing basic training in espionage techniques he is asked to make contact with Victor Koslov whom he knew briefly at Oxford University before he joined the Army Victor is now a liaison officer attached to the Soviet Embassy and has been spotted visiting a prostitute Thoroughgood arranges a chance meeting but Victor tells him that Thoroughgood s father now dead was a Soviet spy Thoroughgood reports back to his mentors who confirm that it may be true They also suspect that his father may have been involved in Operation Legacy the creation of a network of secret caches hidden by the KGB in strategic locations in western countries Thoroughgood manages to locate one such cache near his childhood home in Beaconsfield At the conclusion of the book another cache is found in Southwold near the Sizewell nuclear power stations Reception EditKirkus Reviews is positive a twisty accomplished and engaging Cold War thriller finishing with The conclusion plays out a bit too neatly but still savory cozy nicely textured and very British 2 The Daily Telegraph agrees Employing a number of intricate and entertaining twists Legacy takes us back to John le Carre and the golden age of spy novels This is a secret service run by avuncular civil servants who commute from Kent and Surrey spend the weekends digging their gardens and in the sleepy and indirect manner of well clubbed gentlemen play brilliant endgames that protect us against enemies without and within 3 Joanne Ahern writing for RTE ie says Although award winning author Alan Judd spins a wholly believable and interesting tale the book is terribly slow moving in places and Thoroughgood like his name is not a very exciting character However the book is redeemed by its surprise ending 4 Publication history Edit2001 UK HarperCollins ISBN 0 00 225940 0 Pub date 17 Sep 2001 Hardback 2002 UK Isis ISBN 0 7531 1496 8 Pub date Jun 2002 Audio Cassette 2002 UK HarperCollins ISBN 0 00 651356 5 Pub date 21 Oct 2002 Paperback 2003 US Knopf ISBN 0 375 41484 3 Pub date 08 Apr 2003 Hardback 2004 US Vintage ISBN 1 4000 3081 1 Pub date Nov 2004 Paperback 2009 UK Harpercollins ISBN 0 00 733030 8 Pub date 01 Jul 2009 Paperback 2012 UK Simon amp Schuster ISBN 1 84739 773 5 Pub date 05 Jan 2012 Paperback 5 Television adaptation EditThe novel was adapted for television by the BBC in 2013 Main article Legacy 2013 film References Edit Uncommon Enemy Amazon fr Alan Judd Livres anglais et etrangers Retrieved 2013 01 01 Legacy by Alan Judd Kirkus Book Reviews Retrieved 2013 01 01 Spies had flair in the Seventies Telegraph Retrieved 2013 01 01 Legacy by Alan Judd RTE Ten Retrieved 2013 01 01 www fantasticfiction co uk Retrieved 2013 01 01 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Legacy Judd novel amp oldid 1091088651, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
