Smiley's People

Michael Jayston gives such a wonderful performance, you can't imagine anyone else reading Le Carré. He is George Smiley to perfection.

Tried to switch for another author after listening for two books in succession, but hardly finished listening for mere part. I rushed back to my third title, and was stunned by the great relief I felt the minute I started again. John Le Carre, for my mind, is a genius of truly intellectual novels. I'm not a native speaker, so I excitedly enjoyed learning the language of his books.

I don't normally compare, I enjoy both in different reasons. I enjoy Audio books in the Car on my commute and If I am travelling.

The written books I enjoy if I get a free couple of hours.

George Smiley, a close second Peter guillam and Oliver Lacon. George has a conscience which must be both an asset and a liability in the Job. He is never allowed to just retire and maybe he just can't whilst Karla is sitting atop moscow centre.

Peter isn't as central as he was in Tinker Tailor or The Honourable Schoolboy, but I think he looks to George more like an Uncle than a Friend and Colleague. He never really gets the full picture from George until last and George seems to protect Peter from Sol Enderby and Co.

I seen so many Oliver Lacons in my career. He is Georges superior but Oliver needs George more that George needs Oliver. George is the type of Journeyman in a firm that knows his stuff, knows how things work etc and Oliver has the top job and needs George to keep him looking good.

This time Oliver's wife has left him and I think he suddenly realises the pain George must have felt over his difficult marriage to Ann. He wants George's advice but George does what a real friend would do and let Oliver talk without giving advice.

Excellent as Usual.

During the interogation in Switzerland, without giving away the plot. George is compared to Karla. This is the beginning of the conclusion when George realises that he has become his nemesis.

Although I Enjoyed the Book. The Ending was very Swift and Bare. Both in the Honourable Schoolboy and Smileys people I just felt that there could have been more to say. For example what happened at Sarratt afterwards with their Golddust etc.

What became of George, Peter and Oliver. After reading the trio They have become like family. What became of the circus etc.

This is my only gripe with the last two books in the Karla triolgy

I don't know, some one who thinks it makes them cool by saying it is enjoyable

Andy Carpenter

Some enthusiam from the reader. & I do not like to critize readers but this is hard work

unfortunately around 80%

In all honesty I didn't listen to the entire book. I struggled for the first half, started on the second half but could not take it any more. I have put it away for when I feel strong enough to take the rest.