John Le Carre. Our Kind of Traitor.
New York: Viking. 2010
As reviewed by Ted Odenwald
Though Our Kind of Traitor may not be totally Orwellian in message and tone, there is enough disenchantment and cynicism permeating this novel to assure us that John Le Carre has not lost his edge. His target is corruption in the worlds of economics and politics. In the novel, Russian organized crime, extending its grip on economies throughout the world through massive money-laundering schemes, is close to establishing a solid foothold in Great Britain’s fragile banking system. The main action focuses upon the efforts of a few figures—a defecting Russian criminal, an almost anachronistic and quixotic former spy-chaser, and a pair of idealistic and naïve innocents. These characters attempt to disrupt the mob’s power move by exposing the illicit source of money and by revealing the complicity of some high-ranking Britons who have been bribed.
The main characters all have a great deal at stake. Perry Makepiece, a former Oxford tutor, and his girlfriend, Gail Perkins, a talented barrister-on-the-rise, are innocents who are in over their heads when they accept the challenge to negotiate a life-and-death deal between a Russian criminal and British special services. Dimitri “Dima” Vladimirovich Krasnov is the key figure in a money-laundering conglomerate for the Russian mobs. Knowing that he is targeted for assassination (as was his blood-disciple), Dima in desperation attempts to bargain his knowledge of mob-politico connections in exchange for asylum for himself and his family in Britain. Hector Meredith, the head of a special operations section of MI6, is dedicated to fighting corruption, yet he realizes that his quest is quixotic in a world where leaders will not look at issues as “black and white,” but are more interested in what is profitable and expedient. “Evil is evil” in Hector’s mind, and the insidious corruption of criminal money is a major threat to England’s moral structure and traditions—even if the money will bolster a sagging economy.
The plot unfolds as Perry and Gail are interrogated by MI6 operatives; while on an R&R tennis vacation in Antigua, they had been confronted by a huge, well-to-do Russian, who challenged Perry to a tennis match. Impressed by the Briton’s sense of fair play, Dima insisted that Perry be his intermediary and impartial observer of exchanges between the gangster and the British secret service. The narrative builds in complexity and tension as Perry and Gail become deeply committed to Dima’s situation: Perry is excited to be doing something that may be morally uplifting for his country; Gail is concerned about the welfare of Dima’s family, particularly Natasha, Dima’s pregnant 16-year-old daughter.
A veteran of the intrigues of the Cold War, Hector appears to be a zealot, clinging courageously to justice; he confirms Dima’s allegations that Arena Multi-Global Trading Conglomerate is a large-scale money-laundering operation for the Russian mobs, and that British bankers and politicians, including the member of Parliament who chairs the banking ethics committee, are collaborating with the criminals. Hector is disappointed, though not totally surprised by the willingness of government officials to overlook the obvious immorality and illegality of the arrangements. Government officials seem to encourage going after the “minnows,”–those who handle millions of dollars–, while allowing the “sharks”—those who handle billions—to remain active. Hector’s outrage is heightened by his disgust with “vulture capitalists” who had attempted to bankrupt his family’s business.
Dima’s defection is anything but altruistic. He knows that his days are numbered, for a vicious new echelon of young leadership has taken the reigns of the mob syndicate. As soon as he signs papers abdicating control of “Arena,” he will be assassinated. His motivations are complex: anger and revenge for the new guard’s betrayal of the “voy” code of not cooperating with the Russian government or the police, and for the murder of his loyal disciple, whom he was preparing for a leadership role. Dima struggles with the fact that by collaborating with MI6, he will be violating the code of honor that he has sworn to uphold. While he is clearly arrogant and murderous, he still comes across as a sympathetic character with a strong sense of conscience, dedication, and durability (he had survived 10 years in a Soviet gulag.).
Citing a news story in which European banks were heavily funded by money from illicit drug operations, Le Carre warns that there is a possibility of widespread corruption in the West. He connects banks in London, Russian crooks, and the Russian government with self-seeking British officials to show that the economic environment is spirally out-of-control. His compelling plot and probing development of impassioned, well-rounded, and committed characters have enabled him to present warnings that are powerful and sobering.
Ted Odenwald and his wife, Shirley have lived in Oakland for 40 years. He taught HS English at Glen Rock High School for all of those years plus one more. Now he is enjoying time spent with his family, singing in the North Jersey Chorus and quenching his wanderlust. Ted is also the Worship Leader at the Ramapo Valley Baptist Church in Oakland.