Smiley’s People by John Le Carré
Feb. 24th, 2010 10:56 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
quippeThe Blurb On The Back:
There is no descriptive Blurb on the Back, instead we get the following quotes:
George Smiley is called out of retirement when an old operative called the General is murdered on Hampstead Heath. Initially requested to make sure that there is nothing that could tie the death to the Circus (which now finds itself prone to government whims), Smiley discovers that the General had claimed to have intelligence that could change the game between the west and the Soviet Union and enable him to finally defeat his old enemy, Karla. What follows is Smiley’s delicate unravelling of the information that the General had obtained, a journey that will take him from Britain to West Germany, France and Switzerland and which will see him reunite with old colleagues, including Toby Esterhase, Peter Guillam and Saul Enderby.
One of the all-time great spy thrillers, Le Carre effortlessly weaves his storylines together, switching between Smiley’s investigations and Madame Ostrakova’s innocent trigger of the unfolding events. Smiley is a brilliant character – devoted to the Circus and loyal to the people who worked for him and yet not blind to their faults – a man in control of his emotions and yet unable to control his feelings about his wife Anne and her innumerable affairs. Indeed, Anne’s affair with Bill Haydon lingers like a spectre over the events of the book with Smiley remaining unable to forgive her and seeking revenge for Karla’s instigation of it.
Written in 1980 and set in the same period, it’s fascinating to read of a time before mobile phones and computer technology were prevalent. The spies here rely on their memories and their instincts and luck plays as much a part as hard work.
There are some wonderful scenes in the book as Smiley follows up on old colleagues. His scene with the broken Connie is poignant and touching but there is also room for dark humour, such as his first encounter with the fearful Madame Ostrakova and moments of humanity, such as Smiley’s scenes with Tatiana. The tension never eases up for a moment and its given such authenticity that you never question whether this could have happened.
This is a must-read book written by an author in complete control of his subject matter and ability.
The Verdict:
One of the all time espionage classics, it’s a must-read book for anyone wanting to see how to tell a good story well.
There is no descriptive Blurb on the Back, instead we get the following quotes:
”Le Carre’s best novel ... more tension and excitement than anything else he has written. A Russian woman in Paris; a murder on Hampstead Heath; an asylum in Switzerland; a refined brothel in Hamburg – the story moves effortlessly around the European chessboard. Smiley probes with his ancient white knights and pawns called back from inactive service, and Karla, deep in his Russian defence, jealously guards the mysterious black queen.”
- Melvyn Bragg in the Evening Standard
”The Honourable Schoolboy was simply one of the finest English novels of the seventies ... Smiley’s People complements it beautifully.”
- The Times
”Abounds in breathstopping scenes ... an enormously skilled and satisfying work.”
- Newsweek
”A splendid spy story ... a fine narrative, a delight to read ... intricate, exciting, absorbing.”
- Chicago Tribune
”Elegant, subtle ... a work of art.”
- The Listener
George Smiley is called out of retirement when an old operative called the General is murdered on Hampstead Heath. Initially requested to make sure that there is nothing that could tie the death to the Circus (which now finds itself prone to government whims), Smiley discovers that the General had claimed to have intelligence that could change the game between the west and the Soviet Union and enable him to finally defeat his old enemy, Karla. What follows is Smiley’s delicate unravelling of the information that the General had obtained, a journey that will take him from Britain to West Germany, France and Switzerland and which will see him reunite with old colleagues, including Toby Esterhase, Peter Guillam and Saul Enderby.
One of the all-time great spy thrillers, Le Carre effortlessly weaves his storylines together, switching between Smiley’s investigations and Madame Ostrakova’s innocent trigger of the unfolding events. Smiley is a brilliant character – devoted to the Circus and loyal to the people who worked for him and yet not blind to their faults – a man in control of his emotions and yet unable to control his feelings about his wife Anne and her innumerable affairs. Indeed, Anne’s affair with Bill Haydon lingers like a spectre over the events of the book with Smiley remaining unable to forgive her and seeking revenge for Karla’s instigation of it.
Written in 1980 and set in the same period, it’s fascinating to read of a time before mobile phones and computer technology were prevalent. The spies here rely on their memories and their instincts and luck plays as much a part as hard work.
There are some wonderful scenes in the book as Smiley follows up on old colleagues. His scene with the broken Connie is poignant and touching but there is also room for dark humour, such as his first encounter with the fearful Madame Ostrakova and moments of humanity, such as Smiley’s scenes with Tatiana. The tension never eases up for a moment and its given such authenticity that you never question whether this could have happened.
This is a must-read book written by an author in complete control of his subject matter and ability.
The Verdict:
One of the all time espionage classics, it’s a must-read book for anyone wanting to see how to tell a good story well.
