• Call for the Dead

  • A George Smiley Novel
  • By: John le Carré
  • Narrated by: Michael Jayston
  • Length: 4 hrs and 44 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (2,816 ratings)

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Call for the Dead  By  cover art

Call for the Dead

By: John le Carré
Narrated by: Michael Jayston
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Publisher's summary

George Smiley is no one's idea of a spy - which is perhaps why he's such a natural. But Smiley apparently made a mistake. After a routine security interview, he concluded that the affable Samuel Fennan had nothing to hide. Why, then, did the man from the Foreign Office shoot himself in the head only hours later? Or did he?

The heart-stopping tale of intrigue that launched both novelist and spy, Call for the Dead is an essential introduction to le Carre's chillingly amoral universe.

©2012 John le Carre (P)2012 Penguin Audio

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What listeners say about Call for the Dead

Average customer ratings
Overall
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Masterful

This is my first time listening to a John le Carre novel and I came away seriously impressed and impacted by the experience. These are the treasures that keep me coming back to audiobooks. There is that feeling I get sometimes, listening to the perfect marriage of a storyteller and narrator both at the height of their talents, which bring such pleasure that I sigh aloud. I don't believe that I've ever listened to something from Michael Jayston before, but I will certainly look for his work in the future. And as for le Carre, I haven't read something this intelligent in the thriller genre - he bests Ian Fleming, in my opinion.

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7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

nice opening to series

i have read a couple of le carre's novels and liked them, (Constant Gardiner & From the Cold being excellent) and thought i'd start Smiley series and see how far i wanted to go, at least to Tinker, Tailor & then watch the film. I like the mystery aspect of this one, but I really like how convoluted the spy motive aspect of these get. I may like Le Carre more than i thought, maybe I waited too long to keep up with him. Narrator is good and I think the writing style is in general better from european authors.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Intro to Smiley

Exceptional narration for the first story in the smiley series. A quick and compelling listen. Full of the twists and turns you’d expect from le Carre, it was a pleasure to feel as if I was in Smiley’s thoughts as he sought to work out what happened to Fennem (sp?). This case is referenced in later works and is helpful for understanding Smiley’s fatigue and resignation with the entire business of spying.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Awesome listen.

The story itself was fantastic, and learning some background about George Smiley a big bonus.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Nicely complex thrill ride

This is the first novel I have read by the espionage master. It did not disappoint. The characters are well developed and the storyline very believable. I look forward to more from this author.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Always a Treat

Le Carré is always a treat, and his Smiley books are a lasting legacy to his brilliance as a writer and storyteller.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Narrator an absolute artist

I love listening to this narrator! It takes an extraordinarily special skill to perform like he does

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars

what a Joy!!!

What a brilliant writer. I could not stop listening. He handled a difficult subject masterfully...politics. The only problem about the book was that it ended too soon.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Good start for le Carre's Smiley

Would you listen to Call for the Dead again? Why?

Yes, George Smiley is introduced! Anyone who is a fan of George should read Call for the Dead.

What did you like best about this story?

George Smiley's skepticism and his out of the box methodology.

What about Michael Jayston’s performance did you like?

The narrator was brilliant.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Yes, it was bold for what takes place in the theater.

Any additional comments?

I got what I wanted from Call for the Dead. I had not read le Carre and was familiar from movie and television adaptations. I will try each of the Smiley novel as I enjoy good espionage.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Often confusing - don't give up

The story was read perfectly without overacting the characters which often the case with dramatizations of books, which this is not. It is however a bit confusing with plot and characters if you are not paying %close attention. This may not be the case if reading the book but it almost seems like the author assumes you already know 30% of the background story.

In any case it is summed up well at the end and I wasn't disappointed.

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