Less well known than his protegee, John Le Carre, Bingham was a master of the subtle thriller. In "Fragment of Fear," he paints an almost existentialist web of terror.
"A Fragment of Fear" starts simply enough with writer, James Compton recuperating in Naples after a car accident. He befriends an older woman staying at the hotel and, by chance, is a witness to her murdered body being discovered days later. Thinking the story might make a good basis for a book, he starts asking questions about the dead woman's, Lucy Dawson's, life--both in Naples and when he returns to London.
A Warning
Some after his inquired, Compton receives a note warning him to leave the story alone. What is most disturbing is that the note has clearly been written on his own typewriter, though his apartment does not appear to have been entered. Still, he dismisses the incident until more threats are made, none leaving any evidence to convince the police to take him seriously.
In the Tradition of Kafka and Hitchcock
Eventually, those wishing to warn Compton off of the Dawson story, have woven a Kafka-esque tale of paranoia and intrigue. So clever is their scheme that no one, not even his fiancee believes his story. Will the threats persist? Should Compton give in and give up the story or hold to his principles?
"A Fragment of Fear" is a short, tightly-written novel, in the spirit of the great existentialist writers, Camus and Kafka. It's easy and enjoyable to read on one level, but it's underlying theme is more than a little disturbing. This is one of three novels recently re-released by Simon & Schuster. If you're not familiar with Bingham, I recommend picking this one up.
About John Bingham
Unlike his protegee, John Le Carre, relatively little is written about John Bingham. A Google search will tell you about a runner and an Ohio politician of that name, but not this author. Presumably, that speaks well of a successful MI5 agent. According to the Simon & Schuster biography, Mr. Bingham (AKA Lord Clanmorris, AKA Michael Ward) was a British intelligence officer for over 30 years. In addition, he published over 15 crime and mystery novels. Mr. Bingham died in 1988.
John Le Carre on Bingham
In his foreward to this novel, John Le Carre tells readers that it was Bingham, his boss during the early part of his own MI5 career, that inspired his character, George Smiley. For anyone that has read the extraordinary spy novels featuring that character, you will know that Smiley has a complex character, known for being unknowable and non-descript, yet able to match wits with the world's best and most deceptive minds.
Le Carre also shares that it was his writing about the service that caused an unrepairable rift between the two men, a rift that was never mended. According to Le Carre, Bingham disapproved strongly of Le Carre's even appearing to expose secrets of the agency. Even if you never read a foreward, read this one.
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