400 pages
English language
Published Jan. 1, 2020
A modern classic in which John le Carré expertly creates a total vision of a secret world, Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy begins George Smiley's chess match of wills and wits with Karla, his Soviet counterpart.
It is now beyond a doubt that a mole, implanted decades ago by Moscow Centre, has burrowed his way into the highest echelons of British Intelligence. His treachery has already blown some of its most vital operations and its best networks. It is clear that the double agent is one of its own kind. But which one? George Smiley is assigned to identify him. And once identified, the traitor must be destroyed.
I'd relegated this to the-only-leCarre-book-i'd-bother-to-read. Kai BIrd's The Good Spy changed that.
With apologies to Ian Fleming, I like George Smiley much better than James Bond. I was a little worried that the book would be too dull or dry or technical for me when my husband first read it, but I'm glad i gave it a try. It's true that there are no grand car chases, shoot outs or clever gadgets, no death defying stunts or torrid love scenes, but i was gripped by the story and character right off the bat. The characters are well developed and mostly multi dimensional, i found myself riveted whenever Smiley interrogated someone, the depth of thought and strategy in general were fascinating and the twists and turns kept me thinking about the story whenever i had to put it down. I felt really invested in the characters and what was going on, and actually cried at the inevitable end. I especially like how le …
With apologies to Ian Fleming, I like George Smiley much better than James Bond. I was a little worried that the book would be too dull or dry or technical for me when my husband first read it, but I'm glad i gave it a try. It's true that there are no grand car chases, shoot outs or clever gadgets, no death defying stunts or torrid love scenes, but i was gripped by the story and character right off the bat. The characters are well developed and mostly multi dimensional, i found myself riveted whenever Smiley interrogated someone, the depth of thought and strategy in general were fascinating and the twists and turns kept me thinking about the story whenever i had to put it down. I felt really invested in the characters and what was going on, and actually cried at the inevitable end. I especially like how le Carré told the story, slowly revealing the past as Smiley relived it during his investigation, i had to keep reading because i really needed to know what happened! I kinda wish there had been more and better female representation, but given one of the final reveals/twists being shown with barely a disparaging remark, i can't complain too much
