Smiley’s People is the final book in the Karla Trilogy by John le Carre recounting the ongoing duel of wits between George Smiley of the British Secret Service, the Circus, and his rival with the code name of Karla of the KGB, Moscow Centre. John le Carre in his Introduction from Cornwall in October 2000 reflects that his initial goal was to write this comprehensive group of books describing an epic standoff between the Smiley and Karla that would cover every corner of the globe telling the story of the Cold War in the setting of mutual espionage. However, for a lot of reasons the author decided that it was time to part with George Smiley. I must say that the conclusion to Smiley’s People took me by surprise but it truly was the perfect ending to this trilogy.

”For all these reasons then, ‘Smiley’s People’ was intended to be a requiem for the old spy, and to me that is what it remains. . . . The grand finale takes place in divided Berlin. . . . For his last act, Smiley would return there, and in his heart beg Karla not to leave the East. Smiley wins, Karla loses. But at what cost to both of them? Facing each other, they are the two no-men of no-man’s land. Karla has sacrificed his political faith, Smiley his humanity.”

Smiley’s People is the classic Cold War espionage novel. A Russian emigre is accosted on the streets of Paris by a Soviet intelligence officer as we slowly begin to learn more of her story when she seeks help from a well-placed contact, there is a young Estonian boy thrown into the world of espionage without the proper training as he attempts to be courier in Hamburg, and George Smiley is summoned in the dead of night in London to a grisly murder scene of a retired agent. He is briefed to bury the crime, not to solve it but Smiley becomes haunted by a cast of many ghosts from the past. There is mounting revelation and suspense as we race from Switzerland, Hamburg, Paris and Berlin. John le Carre is the master of espionage with his wealth of books. I am looking forward to reading the last two books in the Smiley’s People series. ( )

Fantastic complexity, as always with Smiley's zen-like calm. Wish I could find more books like this. ( )

After the jet-setting of The Honourable Schoolboy, this is a return to classic Smiley territory. London, Berlin, and other parts of Europe. If you like Smiley (as I do) then this book is great. You feel his frustrations, you are in awe of his tenacity, his methodical weaving of the story, you understand his existential crises, overridden by his sense of duty. The story is similar in many ways to Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy, though much more straight-forward, and then, ultimately, perhaps not quite as satisfying. While TTSS is bamboozling in its complexities, in the end this feels like it comes a bit too easy.

It is a suitable and satisfying conclusion to the Karla trilogy, but, although I did not feel this during the reading of it, in retrospect it is perhaps a little anticlimactic as a story in its own right. ( )

I was first introduced to the novels of John Le Carre by my husband. I don't normally read espionage novels so the genre had no particular attraction for me. However, Le Carre's writing is so exceptional, his story telling so compelling and his characters so vivid that I think categorising his books as spy novels does them a great disservice.

This book, follows a retired George Smiley as he investigates the death of a former source in mysterious circumstances and uncovers an important conspiracy in which to achieve his ends Smiley is forced to use the tactics of his nemesis, the shadowy Karla head of Russia's thirteenth directorate.

The book is set at a gentle pace, one could argue at Smiley's pace, but that only adds to it's charm. If you are looking for a pacy thriller then I don't think this is the book for you. I would however recommend it to lovers of literary fiction who appreciate detail and description. ( )

And so we have come to the conclusion of the Karla trilogy, in which John le Carré pits quiet, self-effacing George Smiley of the Circus, the British espionage agency, against Karla, his ruthless Soviet counterpart. In the first book, [b:Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy|10073506|Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy|John le Carré|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1349070201l/10073506._SX50_.jpg|2491780], we learned how Karla used a "mole" placed in the Circus decades before to threaten both Smiley's intelligence service and his marriage. An unbiased judge would probably give that round to Karla.

The middle volume, [b:The Honourable Schoolboy|18990|The Honourable Schoolboy|John le Carré|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1348762526l/18990._SY75_.jpg|79986], has the two spymasters squared off against each other again, this time via intermediaries (some innocent, some less so), in an exotic locale. Count this one a draw.

So how will events play out in the final volume? Given le Carré's preference for harsh realities to sugar coated endings, it's best not to anticipate, but just go along for the tension-filled ride. Of course, with Smiley that tension more often takes the form of a chess match than a horse race, but it is no less thrilling for that.

Having learned of a potential crack in Karla's personal world through the Russian émigré community in Paris, the supposedly retired Smiley turns to old Circus colleagues to create a snare that will finally put an end to Karla. Smiley's strategy requires the use of the ailing Connie Sachs' prodigious memory, Toby Esterhase's spycraft and connections, and Peter Guilliam's current location in Paris, as well as Oliver Lacon and Saul Enderby's grudging bureaucratic support. There are, as always, keenly described new characters including my favorite, the marvelous feisty, resilient Madame Ostrakova, who sets all the pieces in motion through her awareness that things may not be as they seem.

One of le Carré's techniques that I've appreciated over the course of the three books is to provide external commentary in the form of retrospective discussions by those who work at the Circus as to the wisdom or significance of events. A sort of Greek chorus that adds a nice bit of texture to the narrative.

Although it was satisfying to bring the Karla series to a conclusion, I am delighted that two novels featuring Smiley remain. One each to savor in October and November. ( )