Silverview

A Novel

By: John le Carré

Narrated by: Toby Jones

Length: 6 hrs and 28 mins

Publisher's summary

An instant New York Times bestseller!

In his last completed novel, John le Carré turns his focus to the world that occupied his writing for the past sixty years—the secret world itself.

“[Le Carré] was often considered one of the finest novelists, period, since World War II. It’s not that he 'transcended the genre,' as the tired saying goes; it’s that he elevated the level of play… [Silverview’s] sense of moral ambivalence remains exquisitely calibrated.” —The New York Times Book Review

Julian Lawndsley has renounced his high-flying job in the city for a simpler life running a bookshop in a small English seaside town. But only a couple of months into his new career, Julian’s evening is disrupted by a visitor. Edward, a Polish émigré living in Silverview, the big house on the edge of town, seems to know a lot about Julian’s family and is rather too interested in the inner workings of his modest new enterprise.

When a letter turns up at the door of a spy chief in London warning him of a dangerous leak, the investigations lead him to this quiet town by the sea . . .

Silverview is the mesmerizing story of an encounter between innocence and experience and between public duty and private morals. In his inimitable voice John le Carré, the greatest chronicler of our age, seeks to answer the question of what we truly owe to the people we love.

©2021 John le Carré (P)2021 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

One of:

TIME's "34 Most Anticipated Books of Fall 2021"

The Guardian's "50 biggest books of autumn 2021"

Toronto Star's "35 books you need to know about in Fall 2021"

Yahoo’s “20 buzzy books for Fall 2021”

“A fitting requiem for the career of the man who brought a new level of complexity and humanity to espionage fiction.” (Booklist, starred review)

“[In Silverview,] le Carré plays out revelations about [the characters] slowly and teasingly, and, in the end, they’re as damning as you could wish. The real drama, however, is in the present, where all the characters are hopelessly intertwined and compromised by their loves and loyalties, none of them innocent.... The author’s last few novels have been increasingly valedictory, but this one is truly haunted by intimations of mortality.” (Kirkus Reviews, starred review)

Shocking omission: The afterword...

This is the great le Carré's last novel (barring one lurking inside a drawer somewhere), but it's incomplete in two senses, neither of which you can tell from Toby Jones's excellent acting and narration. le Carré did not finish the book. His son Nick Cornwell supplied an afterword that is quite elegant and moving. He doesn't come right out and say it's not fully baked, but the story does not end.

Nick also adds this paragraph which strikes me as essential to an experience of the book (it's clearly meant to be read as part of the novel):

"But Silverview does something that no other le Carré novel ever has. It shows a service fragmented: filled with its own political factions, not always kind to those it should cherish, not always very effective or alert, and ultimately not sure, any more, that it can justify itself. In Silverview, the spies of Britain have, like many of us, lost their certainty about what the country means, and who we are to ourselves. As with Karla in Smiley’s People, so here with our own side: it is the humanity of the service that isn’t up to the task – and that begins to ask whether the task is worth the cost."

Baffling why this bit would be left out. Otherwise, it's a great listen and Toby Jones is a marvel.

Classic le Carre, but more accessible

All the markings of typical le Carre (mundane, subtle, detailed) but with a more relatable story line and a low enough character-count that the plot is easy to follow.

Another John Le Carrë winner

One two three four five six seven eight nine ten eleven twelve thirteen fourteen fifteen

Quick ending

Wow. Was listening to this book on Audible and the ending just happened—like the author was tired of writing and just wanted to stop. Wasn’t a very satisfying conclusion.

much better than I expected

loved the narration terrific voices and acting and was fascinated how interesting this spy thriller was even though nothing much happens and think that was the point ☝️

It ended too soon!

I was enjoying it so much that it came as a rude shock when it suddenly ended. But it was a good ending. Too bad we can't look forward to any more fine stories from Le Carre. It was a great ride while it lasted!

Fitting last story for a great novelist

The story in the first chapter of this novel comes out of nowhere, feeling almost out of order. As I read farther I began to think that his writing here turned simpler as compared to his other novels. By the end, and needing to reread some chapters, I understood that it is not simpler, it's different. Le Carre' opens his scope to universal perception - a few random interesting women, men, their struggles, their conscience - somehow written more pithy with fewer words. There are spies though. While I will never forget the thrill of "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy", "Silverview" expresses a superb author's Goodbye.

Really Fun

This novel has the usual melancholy of Le Carre but somehow is a little lighter. Maybe it's even a little light-weight, but still it makes you think and it's full of interesting characters and lots of complexity. Highly recommend.

There won’t be a sequel, but…

Shame there won’t be sequel. But then that’s Carre’s signature- always leaving us wanting more.

le Carre never disappoints!

Not a fast paced whodunnit, but rather a leisurely trip through the world of spies.