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- Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy
Summary
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
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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) -
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) -
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) -
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.
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<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) -
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>"<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>"</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) -
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) -
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). "Tinker, Tailor, etc." i...
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/13997035">more...</a> (Posted on 1/29/08) -
Goodreads Review, Review by Derrick
Oft billed as the "anti-Ian Flemming," 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) -
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 "realistic." 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) -
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)









