The more I read him, the more I appreciate his talents. He writes great spy novels that are also just plain great novels. He transcends his genre. Wonderful characters, striking insights into the human condition and the best understand of bureaucratic behavior I’ve ever seen.
I’m a fan.
I’ve been reading his stuff for years, but as I say, the more I read him the more I appreciate him.
I just finished listening to Our Game on tape (unabridged). What a wonderful book. When Cranmer spills the beans that Pettifer is missing because (he thinks) he’s killed him… I sat there with my mouth open for about five minutes. Wow.
Now I’m reading The Secret Pilgrim which is essentially a bunch of short stories from the Smiley era tied together through a common character (Ned). Very good stories in themselves, but I’m wondering what the underlying theme tying the stories together is… I also wonder if these cases are referred to at all in the Smiley books.
This book has also renewed my interest in the Smiley books. Soon as I finish this one, I’m going back to Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy and re-reading all three till they get Karla. One thing I will say – LeCarre tends to drop you in the deep end at the beginning of his books. You start in the middle and must discern the players and their positions. He doesn’t spoon feed you…
So, what about it? Anybody else enjoy David Cornwell’s stories of the Circus?
I am a HUGE fan. For my money, no one else come’s close to his work, except maybe some of Graham Greene’s work.
Have you seen the BBC series?
Only one? Jeepers.
Huh, there was a BBC series? I wonder if it was/will be on BBC America. Which book(s) was it about?
Starring Alec Guiness, no less.
I find him very uneven. I can get a little tired of the middle aged man with a hard on for 25 yo women. Best of his books - ‘A perfect spy’.
You can get the Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy series, with Alec Guinness as Smiley, on DVD. I got it at the library.
LeCarre is one of the best writers in English in the Twentieth Century, in any “genre.” His novels are not spy novels; they’re literature that happens to be about spies.
I’ve read everything, most of it twice, some of it more.
I am reading Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. I admit I am finding it rather confusing. My impression is that the book takes for granted a certain amount of knowledge of the fictional world. Is there an earlier book which introduces the characters and background? I haven’t read too many spy novels so that could be the reason as well. Still I definitely find it interesting enough to continue.
Some of the characters were introduced in earlier novels, but each book stands on its own. If LeCarre refers to situations in earlier books, he gives you whatever relevant info you need to continue; other aspects aren’t relevant to the current story.
Yeah, I think that’s one of his standard techniques. You start out in the middle of a bunch of characters and gradually you figure out who’s who and what’s what. What’s interesting is how you learn more about some characters over the course of several books (e.g. Smiley, Toby Esterhase, Bill Haydon, et al).
Also, I love the fact that you never meet “Control” yet you are able to develop a mental picture of him and an good understanding of his character.
The BBC dramatized three Le Carre novels, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy and Smiley’s People, with Alec Guinness, and A Perfect Spy with Peter Egan in the lead. Trying to work out who the mole was in Tinker Tailor became something of a national obsession when the series was first transmitted … They’ve had video releases, and Tinker Tailor at least is out on Region 2+4 DVD …
I agree with The Gaspode that LeCarre can be uneven. I think that some of his recent work has suffered as he as moved away from stories rooted in the Cold War. I also agree that A Perfect Spy was my favorite. What an incredible character study and an amazing literary achievement. I have great hope that LeCarre still has a few good books in him.
I haven’t read any of his post-Cold War stuff, but it’s on the shelves for someday.
Little Drummer Girl is my favorite, followed by The Spy Who Came in from the Cold.
I used to take his books to work and read some of the better passages aloud to anyone who was walking by. 
Huh. Little Drummer Girl is the one book I couldn’t get into, despite repeated attempts. The Spy Who Came in from the Cold is great. It was my first exposure to LeCarre and hooked me. I think its wonderful how he doesn’t let you be sure whether Leamus is establishing cover or is truly in decline for a long, long time.
I’m pretty sure I’ve read A Perfect Spy but I don’t remember it. Anybody care to provide a quick synopsis?
Anybody else care to comment on Our Game?
What about the movie adaptations? I haven’t seen any. I know Drummer Girl’s been done as has Russia House. Any reviews?
Maybe I should try this. What I find so wonderful is how he can lay out someone’s deepest secrets and truest character in a sentence or two. The plots are good, but the style and the characterization are terrific.
Also, I don’t think he likes women very much. I can’t think of a sympathetic female character in any of his books.
How about The Constant Gardener? The (murdered) activist wife of the protagonist was the driving force behind his efforts to expose the eeevil pharmaceutical corporation (all names escape me, perhaps a Dewar’s moment) :).
Also, in The Night Manager there are very powerful female characters whose sacrifices and memory drive the protagonist (and the plot) forward.
Granted, Smiley’s wife was less than perfect, but there’s more to LeCarre than the Smiley stories…
-Rav