Spies (novel)
Spies (2002) is a psychological novel by English author and dramatist Michael Frayn. It is currently studied by A-Level, and some GCSE, literature students in various schools.
Synopsis
An elderly man, Stephen Wheatley, reminisces about his life during the Second World War as he wanders down the now modernised London cul-de-sac that he once called home. Through a series of extended flashbacks we learn about his life as a young boy, when he and close friend Keith Hayward started spying on the latter's mother, convinced that she was an agent of the Nazis. As the story unfolds, the reader sees that the situation Keith and Stephen fall into is far more mysterious than they could imagine.
The narrative style therefore takes on the form of a bildungsroman.[1]
Characters
- Stephen Wheatley - A shy boy who finds himself drawn into Keith's games and is a frequent target of school bullies.
- Keith Hayward - A snobbish, domineering child with a worryingly vicious streak, possibly inspired by the cruelty his father bestows upon him whenever he misbehaves. His inherent snobbery has alienated most other children and his parents seem largely ignorant of him, so in a sense he relies on Stephen for companionship, although he frequently condescends to and mistreats him.
- Mrs. Hayward - A mysterious character, implied as being very attractive. She vanishes for various amounts of time throughout the day for no apparent reason, leading her son to believe that she may be an undercover operative. She has a distant relationship with her husband, and seems vaguely scared of him.
- Mr. Hayward - A deeply introverted man, who spends most of his time in his shed working on various mechanical projects. He mostly ignores Keith, and only acknowledges Stephen's existence when it appears that he knows something he shouldn't. He has a peculiar hold on his wife and is subtly conveyed as quite a nasty, mean-spirited individual.
- Barbara Berrill - A school peer of Keith and Stephen, who shows an interest in the latter and occasionally accompanies him on his adventures. She often appears bossy and annoys Stephen, although it appears that he may have a slight crush on her. Barbara serves as a plot device for revealing important information at certain times during the novel.
- Auntie Dee - Mrs. Hayward's sister, whom she sees every day.
- Uncle Peter - Auntie Dee's husband, a handsome young man currently fighting abroad. He has garnered a reputation as a war hero.
Critical reactions
Spies was received well by the literary community, with many critics praising Frayn for his creative and original approach.[2] Once published, Spies went on to win the 2002 Whitbread Novel of the year for achievement in literary excellence.
See also