Smiley's People

by John le Carré

English language

Published May 11, 2002

ISBN:: 978-0-7434-5580-0

(15 reviews)

Smiley's People is a spy novel by John le Carré, published in 1979. Featuring British master-spy George Smiley, it is the third and final novel of the "Karla Trilogy", following Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy and The Honourable Schoolboy. George Smiley is called out of retirement to investigate the death of one of his old agents: a former Soviet general, the head of an Estonian émigré organisation based in London. Smiley learns the general had discovered information that will lead to a final confrontation with Smiley's nemesis, the Soviet spymaster Karla.

6 editions

georgewhatup reviewed Smiley's People by John le Carré

Review of "Smiley's People" on 'Goodreads'

5 stars

The final instalment in the Karla trilogy and of course le Carré managed to end it in style. A return to the style of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy - rather than the more action packed The Honourable Schoolboy - a grey man under a grey sky reading files in various government buildings and occasionally interviewing someone.

And it was brilliant, le Carré can ratchet up the tension in a seemingly small conversation like no one I've ever read, and his ability to provide just the right amount of detail describing different cities, professions, and people, never ceases to amaze me.

A brilliant conclusion.