The enduring novel by one of our greatest storytellers. George Smiley, who is a troubled man of infinite compassion, is also a single-mindedly ruthless adversary as a spy. The scene which he enters is a Cold War landscape of moles and lamplighters, scalp-hunters and pavement artists, where men are turned, burned or bought for stock. Smiley's mission is to catch a Moscow Centre mole burrowed thirty years deep into the Circus itself.
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
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'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
From the Publisher
John Le Carre's internationally famous hero, British Secret Service Agent George Smiley, has a world-class problem. He has discovered a mole--a Soviet double agent who has managed to burrow his way up to the highest level of British Intelligence. Under the direction of Karla, Smiley's equivelent in the Soviet Union, the agent has already blown some of the most vital secret operations and most productive networks. Now-how can Smiley use a lifetime's worth of espionage skills to ferret out a spy who posseses them as well?
"A stunning story of espionage."--The Wall Street Journal.
"Le Carre is simply the world's greatest fictional spymaster."--Newsweek --This text refers to the Paperback edition.
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First Sentence
The truth is, if old Major Dover hadn't dropped dead at Taunton races Jim would never have come to Thursgood's at all. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
The truth is, if old Major Dover hadn't dropped dead at Taunton races Jim would never have come to Thursgood's at all. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By nechoplex
Format:Paperback
All in all I think Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy is a really great and compelling book. The writing is flawless and witty, and the characters are all extremely interesting. My only problem with the book is it excruciatingly slow pace, especially a quarter through where things got so slow I almost stopped reading all together. But things quickly pick-up near the end and while I saw the ending coming, it still made for a suspenseful story. And the book managed to get me even more excited for the upcoming film.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Mass Market Paperback
Le Carre is the best spy novelist ever and truly a modern master of literature. Tinker Tailor takes the reader on a journey through the murky labyrinths of british intelligence as the antihero Smiley, a plump, confused, betrayed, but deceptively steely and intelligent spy, ferrets out a mole burrowed into the highest levels of British Intelligence by his Soviet nemesis, Karla. The themes of betrayal, downfall, and the inescapable immorality of spying permeate this finely written book, while the challenge of discovering, with Smiley, who the mole is, captures the reader from the start. Le Carre's character developement is superior to almost any writer, living or dead, and the complexity of the mole, Smiley, Connie Sachs, and a host of other characters adds another superior facet. Finally, Le Carre's use of wonderfully quaint terminology, with "moles", "legmen", "burrowers", "the circus", and others making frequent appearances, spices up the book. The best spy book I have ever read, and I have read every book by Forsyth, Higgings, Clancy, and Craig, and almost every Ludlum. This may be a great spy book, but it is also an outstanding work of literature, like its two successors, and is a classic in every respect. Everyone should read it who has a mind and appreciation for a nobly done turn of phrase. However, this book isn't for the James Bond Boom Boom kiss the girl and fly off sort- requires thought!
By michellesiew
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
For anyone who has never read a John Le Carre novel, be warned - his writing style is quite unique, and his characters can be extremely unlikeable and unlikely. Le Carre also uses a lot of so-called "jargon" in his spy novels - terms used in the British Secret Service to describe various roles, like lamplighters, burrowers, scalphunters, etc. Unfortunately, "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy" does not come with a dictionary to help translate the jargon, so the book may be quite confusing to unwary readers.
Even IF you can get through the jargon, the book is quie slow-paced at the beginning. A lot of characters are introduced, but not all are well-developed - this can make it even harder to keep track of the various twisted plots interlaced throughout the book.
The sequel to TTTS ("The Honourable Schoolboy") is a much better book in my opinion.
Even IF you can get through the jargon, the book is quie slow-paced at the beginning. A lot of characters are introduced, but not all are well-developed - this can make it even harder to keep track of the various twisted plots interlaced throughout the book.
The sequel to TTTS ("The Honourable Schoolboy") is a much better book in my opinion.
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3.9 out of 5 stars
Most recent customer reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
for those like spy novels
Very well written but I admit I found it hard slugging to get through. I will hang on to it though. Perhaps as time goes on I'll try it again
Published 4 months ago by happy
1.0 out of 5 stars
where is the story
in all my life, i am 70 i have never saw a book like this it is not readable i am on page 149 and i have no idea what is going on. Read more
Published 15 months ago by smitty
5.0 out of 5 stars
Tinkering with Perfection
This is the perfect novel. When was the first time you suspected that most middle-aged men in senior government positions had secret agendas? Read more
Published on April 2 2003 by Anthony Paraskevas
5.0 out of 5 stars
Tinkering with Perfection
This is the perfect novel. When was the first time you suspected that most middle-aged men in senior government positions had secret agendas? Read more
Published on April 2 2003 by Anthony Paraskevas
1.0 out of 5 stars
Certainly a Tinker
In his Smiley sequel, this bloke has filled countless pages with the most boring stuff. He cannot hold my attention for more than a few phrases at a time. Mr. Read more
Published on Aug 1 2002 by Gerburg Frick
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wonderful characters, thick plot
One of Le Carre's masterpieces, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is much more than a popcorn espionage novel. The characters are vibrant, and the setting is very good. Read more
Published on April 13 2002 by "kellyke"
5.0 out of 5 stars
Smiley's Finest Hour
What happens if you've lost your friends, your motivation, your career is hopelessly stalled and you're coming to realize the entire foundation of said career is hopelessly... Read more
Published on Nov 2 2001 by Matherson
4.0 out of 5 stars
Pretty darn good.
I tried reading this book shortly after college in 1994 & it didn't capture my attention then. I reread it this year & liked it much better. Read more
Published on May 25 2001
3.0 out of 5 stars
Enjoyable, but not his best
I write this as a complete Carre enthusiast. His works are the top of literature, and yes, with Greene gone, he is the best in Britain. Read more
Published on April 11 2001 by Alec Corday
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of the greats.
If you've read this masterpiece by LeCarrè then you would know why I think he is the greatest spy novelist ever. Read more
Published on April 4 2001 by Robert Steele
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