Espionage Novels

[Silktie]

(07-07-2011 04:47 AM)A Cousin Wrote:  I did the same thing for the same reason. I am convinced that Alec White in S9 was a subtle tip of the hat to Alec Leamas. I enjoyed it, I have now moved onto Tinker, Tailor... which I find to be even better. It is a much more lush novel in plot as well as character. le Carre takes his time in it. I have had some difficulty keeping the characters straight in my mind but with the help of the upcoming movie casting, I'm getting better. That and a great chapter in which Smiley reminisces about all of their histories and personalities.

It's interesting that you say that. The Spy Who Came In From the Cold is usually the le Carre book that gets mentioned on lists of the greatest spy novels ever, never the others.

Yet I agree with A Cousin that Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy is a better book, and I think Smiley's People is possibly even better than Tinker, Tailor.