I was inspired to read this by the BBC television series, sometime in the late 1980’s. I understand that John LeCarre is now upset that everyone pictures George Smiley as Alec Guiness, and in the Folio Society edition I have the author asked that no faces be depicted in the illustrations. I picked up the book idly, when the new edition came, and re-read the last half, eagerly. LeCarre tells a complex tale of spying, and his characters are unforgettable. The ousted spy George Smiley is recalled to duty when a minor agent becomes embroiled in a love affair, and becomes certain that the death of his girlfriend means there is a mole in the British intelligence service. Smiley gradually and carefully exposes the mole. The atmosphere is cold war, and the spy tradecraft is lovingly described. ( )

Unbelievably riveting from beginning to end - this book becomes the Rosetta Stone for all of Le Carré's other books set in Cold War Europe. ( )

The Franklin Library of Mistery Masterpieces

Synopsis:

George Smiley, a retired top-ranking officer of the British Secret Intelligence Service (aka The Circus), is approached by some former fellows who suspect there's a Soviet Mole inside the Service. Smiley's asked for help and begins to work privately, aiming to find the mole (who is believed to be one of the big guys at the Circus) through documents and interviews with some witnesses.

Personal opinion:

This is the first part of the "Karla Trilogy" ("Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy", "The Honourable Schoolboy", "Smiley's People"). It is inspired by the "Cambridge Five" (British officers who were, in fact, working for KGB) and, personally, I'd say that the mole on the book is based on one of them (Kim Philby).

About the story in itself, the plot is set in England, during the Cold War. It's a period when there's constant suspicion about moles from the Soviet Union operating inside the Intelligence Services. The novel is fascinating and enjoyable as far as it gives you a great insight on espionage. Actually, the fact that the author uses a lot of jargon in dialogs makes you feel the characters and the story so realistic. My only concern would be the complexity of the narrative, which makes it difficult to follow during some chapters for non-natives like me; but it seems to be a common denominator on Le Carre's novels. Nonetheless, the style is pretty.

In addition, George Smiley turns out to be an interesting character that you finally come to know and to be fond of. Together with Jim Prideaux, they're the only three dimensional characters in the story (there's no need for more, though). Their background and the way they think is so genuine that you can eventually comprehend their feelings and share their suffering. The other main characters (Percy Alelline, Bill Haydon, Toby Esterhase, Karla, etc.) are well developed, each one according to their weight in this first part of the trilogy.

My overall impression is that Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy is worth reading. It's been a pleasant lecture, its suspensefulness being one of its main virtues (as long as the psychological approach). I'd say it's one of the best books I've ever read. Hence: ( )

There’s a mole in the "Circus" which I take is part of the British intelligence services. Or perhaps the entire service. I don’t know. Anyway, the mole is pretty high up. A botched spy job in Czechoslovakia forced out the director and most of the high ranking personnel. The mole is one of the four newly in charge people. So word gets to the government minister whose portfolio includes intelligence that there’s a mole, and he goes to former spy George Smiley (forced out because of the botched job) to root out the mole. Since the mole is effectively running things, Smiley can’t actually do anything from within to find him.

Smiley does all his work by research (that part is pretty inscrutable) and interviewing people. Every interview is fraught with the danger that Smiley’s quest for the mole will be discovered. The turncoat could turn the tables, or disappear. Psychologically, that was pretty good.

(Full review at my blog) ( )