The Innocent

The Innocent cover
Good Books rating 4.17
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Technical
  • ID: 8578
  • Added: 2025-12-22
  • Updated: 2025-12-30
  • ISBN: 9780886194130
  • Publisher: L&OD
  • Published: 2002-01-01
  • Formats: 1
  • Reviews: 3

Set in the tense atmosphere of postwar Berlin, The Innocent follows Leonard, a British post office technician, as he is drawn into the world of electronic surveillance and espionage. His professional life becomes increasingly complex as he delves deeper into the echelons of Cold War intelligence. Simultaneously, he meets Maria, a young German woman, and their relationship adds a personal dimension to his already complicated life. As Leonard's two worlds collide, he senses that his life is about to change dramatically, but he cannot anticipate the horrors that await him. Ian McEwan's novel is a gripping espionage thriller that masterfully blends personal and political narratives, culminating in a powerful and satisfying conclusion that captures the essence of the Cold War era.

Reviews
A Little Blog of Books · 2017-10-08
good 4.00

The book is noted for its less macabre tone compared to McEwan's earlier works, making it a refreshing read. The reviewer appreciates the intricate plot and the way McEwan portrays the psychological impact of the era.

This review points out that 'The Innocent' is less macabre compared to some of McEwan's earlier books, making it a refreshing read. The reviewer appreciates the intricate plot and the way McEwan portrays the psychological impact of the Cold War era. They note that the book's exploration of themes like repression and brutality adds depth to the story, making it a memorable read. The reviewer also highlights how the protagonist's journey is both compelling and disturbing, highlighting the brutality of the era.


Quick quotes

    Half way through reading the book, I observed that 'The Innocent' had so far been much less macabre compared to some of McEwan's earlier books.

    The Innocent is a gripping and twisty thriller that immerses the reader in a Cold War setting.

    The protagonist's journey is both compelling and unsettling, highlighting the brutality of the era.

Spybrary · 2016-02-08
excellent 4.50

The book is a gripping and twisty thriller that immerses the reader in a Cold War setting. The protagonist's journey is both compelling and unsettling, highlighting the brutality of the era.

This review highlights how 'The Innocent' is a thrilling read that keeps you on the edge of your seat. The Cold War setting is vividly brought to life, and the protagonist's experiences are both engaging and disturbing. The reviewer appreciates the intricate plot and the way McEwan portrays the psychological impact of the era. They also note that the book's exploration of themes like repression and brutality adds depth to the story, making it a memorable read.


Quick quotes

    The Innocent is a twisty gripper of a book, which embroils a naive telecoms worker in the 1950s tunnel the allies built under the Russian sector of Berlin.

    The imagination was even more brutal than life.

    McEwan swiftly immerses the reader in a cold-war world of secrecy and paranoia.

London Review of Books · Michael Wood · 1990-05-10
great 4.00

The novel is praised for its vivid portrayal of Cold War Berlin and its exploration of human psychology. The reviewer finds the protagonist's journey both compelling and disturbing.

Michael Wood's review highlights how 'The Innocent' effectively captures the atmosphere of Cold War Berlin. He praises McEwan's ability to delve into the psychological state of the protagonist, making the story both compelling and disturbing. Wood also notes that the book's exploration of themes like repression and brutality adds depth to the narrative, making it a standout work. He appreciates the intricate plot and the way McEwan portrays the complexities of human nature.


Quick quotes

    The imagination was even more brutal than life.

    Ancient repressions must be at work here, stoking the fires of the imagination.

    McEwan memorably says in The Innocent.