Smiley's People
by John le Carré · first published 1979
50% recommend50% neutral
Why HN recommends it
Spy novel centered on George Smiley, praised for atmosphere, patient pacing and long character-driven scenes; rewards readers who enjoy le Carré's measured style and emotional payoff, and follows Tinker Tailor.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
John le Carré's classic novels deftly navigate readers through the intricate shadow worlds of international espionage with unsurpassed skill and knowledge, and have earned him -- and his hero, British Secret Service Agent George Smiley -- unprecedented worldwide acclaim. In Smiley’s People, master storyteller John le Carré brings his acclaimed Karla trilogy to its unforgettable, spellbinding conclusion.George Smiley is asked to come out of retirement for one last confrontation with his soviet counterpart, Karla. Smiley's people crisscross Paris, London, Germany, and Switzerl
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…you enjoyed this movie and the way it is narrated, please do yourself a favor and watch all the BBC mini series from the 70ies/80ies based on John Le Carré books, namely "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy", "Smiley's People", and "A Perfect Spy" (or read the books, John Le Carré is an excellent writer, and "A Perfect Spy" can be compared to works by Dickens). You usually have no clue what is going on, and only learn about…
on “The joy of reading books you don't understand” ↗…don't let this deter you, but Alec Guiness as George Smiley is a perfect match. John Le Carré thought so, too. Oh and Patrick Steward plays "Karla" the soviet mastermind in this series and its successor "Smiley's People". Just a few seconds, but very memorable, its incredible really. [0] https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080297/
on “Show HN: Tripwire: A new anti evil maid defense” ↗…information about the capabilities and intentions of friends and adversaries. The mechanics of this trade has always been the bread and butter of the spy thriller. The whole first half of Le Carré’s masterpiece Smiley’s People, for example, turns on the physical transportation of a single incriminating frame of negative film across national frontiers by couriers, several of whom end up dead. That was the analog world of the…
on “Examining a vintage RAM chip, I find a counterfeit with a different die inside” ↗He had a long and productive life, and I hope a happy one, but this is still a great loss. So many of the books are magnificent in their depth. So are the filmed adaptations: the BBC productions of Smiley's People and Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy; and the more recent film of the latter; and the Night Manager miniseries. What has also given me a lot of pleasure was the BBC Radio productions of the eight George…
on “John le Carré has died” ↗…have a large book collection and one of the cornerstones is a first edition of every John le Carre book published. I've read them all, and while he is probably best known for "Tinker Tailor ..." and "Smiley's People", I found "The Perfect Spy" to be just an exceptional work of literature - and at times it is also autobiographical (his father was a con man). I'm not surprised he was at times profoundly unhappy -…
on “John le Carré's private life, revealed in letters and a kiss-and-tell” ↗Thanks, I was just looking for more le Carré adaptations today! Finished Smiley's People yesterday.
on “The Father of All Secrets: John Le Carré’s Daddy Issues” ↗