The Circus has already suffered a bad defeat, and the result was two bullets in a man's back. But a bigger threat still exists. And the legendary George Smiley is recruited to root out a high-level mole of thirty years' standing - though to find him means spying on the spies. Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is brilliant and ceaselessly compelling, pitting Smiley against his Cold War rival, Karla, in one of the greatest struggles in all fiction.

About the Author

John le Carre was born in 1931. His third novel, THE SPY WHO CAME IN FROM THE COLD, secured him a wide reputation which was consolidated by the acclaim for his trilogy TINKER TAILOR SOLDIER SPY, THE HONOURABLE SCHOOLBOY and SMILEY'S PEOPLE. His other novels include THE CONSTANT GARDENER, A MOST WANTED MAN and OUR KIND OF TRAITOR.

Reviews

'A great thriller, the best le Carre has written.' -- Spectator 'A stunning story' -- Wall Street Journal 'John le Carre is the great master of the spy story ... the constant flow of emotion lifts him above most novelists now practising.' -- Financial Times

Packaged to tie in with the recent film version of this masterful spy thriller, the audio edition benefits from strong narration from Michael Jayston, an actor who appeared in the 1979 BBC television adaptation of le Carre's complex novel. The twisting plot, boiled down, focuses on retired British spymaster George Smiley, who's called back to duty to find a traitor among the "gang of four" now heading England's secret service. In the miniseries, Jayston portrayed Smiley's right-hand man, Peter Guillam. In this audio edition, he easily slips back into the loyal, dedicated Guillam, while also doing justice to the book's cast of characters. His spot-on portrayal of Smiley admirably includes both of the protagonist's sides: his quietly brilliant professionalism and his personal self-doubt and fecklessness. Jayston's characterizations are invariably effective, from gruff, lonely, and broken ex-spy Jim Prideaux to the high-flying, arrogant members of the "gang of four." Two moments-Smiley's subtle questioning of a former teammate, once famous for her now-fading memory, and the exciting, highly suspenseful exposure of the Russian spy-are particular standouts. Jayston matches both perfectly, as well as all those in between. A Penguin paperback. (Feb.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.