The Innocent

Interesting Facts

• The novel is set in Berlin during the 1950s, a period marked by the Cold War.
• The main character, Leonard Marnham, works for British intelligence and is involved in a secret operation to tunnel and eavesdrop on Soviet communications.
• The novel is based on real events related to Operation Gold, where Western allies attempted to tap Soviet phone lines in East Berlin.
• One of the key themes of the book is the loss of innocence, both personal and political.
• The book features a tense atmosphere of espionage and paranoia, characteristic of the Cold War era.
• The relationship between Leonard and his German lover Maria plays a crucial role in the development of the plot and character revelation.