Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy

By: John le Carre

Penguin

ISBN: 9781101528785

eBook Format:


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Available Only in:  US

Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy

Summary

"It's the oldest question of all, George. Who can spy on the spies?"

The man he knew as "Control" is dead, and the young Turks who forced him out now run the Circus. But George Smiley isn't quite ready for retirement-especially when a pretty, would-be defector surfaces with a shocking accusation: a Soviet mole has penetrated the highest level of British Intelligence. Relying only on his wits and a small, loyal cadre, Smiley traces the breach back to Karla-his Moscow Centre nemesis-and sets a trap to catch the traitor.

The first novel in John le Carré's celebrated Karla trilogy, Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy is a heart-stopping tale of international intrigue.

With an Introduction by the Author.

Customer Reviews

  1. Goodreads Review, Review by José-contemplates-Saturn's Aurora

    A book of 1974.With an enlightening 1991 Introduction on Carré's characters vis-a-vis himself; that is,many similarities perceived between Carré and Philby,Kim...regarding the father ("dictatorial") figure;though Carré never went Philby's way. Also mentioned Carré's sympathy for George Bla...
    <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/240666669">more...</a> (Posted on 12/20/11)

  2. Goodreads Review, Review by Angie

    Great read...in the end.<br/><br/>Ok, this one was interesting as it threw up lots of double-edged characters and a system of espionage firmly planted back in the dark ages when technology was unheard of and a rigid secret service, heavily staffed and regimented, took charge of British secret servic...
    <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/213700509">more...</a> (Posted on 10/22/11)

  3. Goodreads Review, Review by Charon

    It took me more than half of the book to get a rough idea of what is going on (by that I don't mean the overall plot of course, that is pretty straight forward). <br/><br/>Only then did I start to understand how people are connected and why certain things are important enough to be investigated. Aft...
    <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/206189491">more...</a> (Posted on 9/25/11)

  4. Goodreads Review, Review by Patrick

    I had read <em><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/19494.The_Spy_Who_Came_in_from_the_Cold" title="The Spy Who Came in from the Cold by John le Carré">The Spy Who Came In From the Cold</a></em> on my honeymoon in Paris, and I remember liking it, but not rushing out to get more Le Carre. Well, now I'm going to rush out to get more Le Carre.
    <br/>
    <br/>I didn't give this five stars because it was a touch slow to get moving. I think if I'd just...
    <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/29554479">more...</a> (Posted on 9/6/10)

  5. Goodreads Review, Review by danny

    I've read and re-read this probably half a dozen times. Absolutely the finest most textured espionage novel EVER written (including Le Carre's other espionage masterpiece <u>&quot;<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/19494.The_Spy_Who_Came_in_from_the_Cold" title="The Spy Who Came in from the Cold by John le Carré">The Spy Who Came In From The Cold</a>&quot;</u>). Honestly, you need a scorecard to keep the characters and plot line straight. ...
    <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4451182">more...</a> (Posted on 9/6/10)

  6. Goodreads Review, Review by gaby

    And thus began what would be a year and a half-long obsession with George Smiley and his British Circus. Having now read every last book in which Smiley is even cursorily mentioned, I can say steadfast that this is Le Carre's masterwork. It is a warm, immersive book. It draws you in like a warm sw...
    <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1949088">more...</a> (Posted on 12/17/09)

  7. Goodreads Review, Review by Katie

    The first in John LeCarre's Karla trilogy, this is considered to be the best espionage novel written. The superbly conceived mystery follows George Smiley, a retired British spy, in his quest to discover a mole within the Circus (British Intelligence Headquarters). &quot;Tinker, Tailor, etc.&quot; i...
    <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/13997035">more...</a> (Posted on 1/29/08)

  8. Goodreads Review, Review by Derrick

    Oft billed as the &quot;anti-Ian Flemming,&quot; John Le Carre inverts all the typical trappings of the spy-thriller: in place of the handsome, gadget-happy g-man we're given a sacked, middle-aged cuckold whose attention to detail and intellectual virtuosity quietly derail Moscow Central's invisible...
    <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/12102163">more...</a> (Posted on 1/10/08)

  9. Goodreads Review, Review by Kate

    First off, I understand that <em>Tinker Tailor</em> is a spy novel, and that Le Carre obviously wanted to achieve a certain effect appropriate to the genre, and to keep everything &quot;realistic.&quot; But it was jargon-y to a fault, and in keeping its audience as in the dark as its protagonist, it succeed...
    <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/433875">more...</a> (Posted on 1/3/08)

  10. Goodreads Review, Review by Dan

    Smiley is as close to being the perfect fictional character as can be. LeCarre' breathes life into him with painstaking attention to detail. Smiley is a complex individual, brilliant and deeply flawed but honorable and admirable. If George were a real human being, I think I'd like to have him as a...
    <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7558510">more...</a> (Posted on 10/10/07)


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