John

Le Carre

It was less an interview than an amiable conversation over a walk in the park. George Smiley had been sent to speak to a high-ranking civil servant after an anonymous tip-off that he was a security risk. It was a formality - and the two men liked each other. Why then, did it apparently drive the poor man to despair? And why was he found dead the next day, the victim of an unnecessary suicide? Call for the Dead launched John le Carré's unparalleled career as a novelist, and introduces one of fiction's most famous spies - George Smiley, who is both brilliant and unremarkable.

Call For The Dead

John le Carre

Featuring an introduction by the author, this is a paperback reissue of the debut novel that introduces one of the most popular characters in espionage fiction: George Smiley.

Call for the Dead

Frederik De Bosschere

John le Carré

The first of his peerless novels of Cold War espionage and international intrigue, Call for the Dead is also the debut of John le Carré's masterful creation George Smiley. After a routine security check by George Smiley, civil servant Samuel Fennan apparently kills himself. When Smiley finds Circus head Maston is trying to blame him for the man's death, he begins his own investigation, meeting with Fennan's widow to find out what could have led him to such desperation. But on the very day that Smiley is ordered off the enquiry he receives an urgent letter from the dead man. Do the East Germans - and their agents - know more about this man's death than the Circus previously imagined? Le Carré's first book, Call for the Dead, introduced the tenacious and retiring George Smiley in a gripping tale of espionage and deceit. If you enjoyed Call for the Dead, you might like le Carré's The Spy Who Came in from the Cold, also available in Penguin Modern Classics. 'Intelligent, thrilling, surprising ... makes most cloak-and-dagger stuff taste of cardboard' Sunday Telegraph 'Brilliant. Realistic. Constant suspense' Observer

Apurva Chitnis

Another excellent le Carre book, nearly on par with Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. As always with a Le Carre espionage, expect great mystery and intrigue. Reading this reminded me a lot of Neuromancer - you're dumped into a new world with it's own nomenclature and expected to figure out what's going on through small hints and comments. I promise - it's fun!

There is subtle social commentary gently interwoven throughout the novel, and the characters are wonderfully constructed with complete histories and motivations. I felt great sympathy with the antagonists - not a common experience sadly.

This story was a little short, however, particularly compared to Tinker, and I wish it was fleshed out more. Listening to the the audiobook version was a challenge - I found myself regularly skipping back sections to fully understand what had just occurred. I don't think I'll listen to another le Carre audiobook in the future - there's just too much mystique!

Overall, a good listen. Strongly recommended if you enjoy espionage, but perhaps not a good fit for those who aren't fans of the genre.

erin

Well written, easy to read. Plot kept my interest throughout. Nothing to write home about, but an enjoyable experience if you just want a nice little mystery.

After a routine security check by George Smiley, civil servant Samuel Fennan apparently kills himself. When Smiley finds Circus head Maston is trying to blame him for the man's death, he begins his own investigation, meeting with Fennan's widow to find out what could have led him to such desperation. But on the very day that Smiley is ordered off the enquiry he receives an urgent letter from the dead man. Do the East Germans - and their agents - know more about this man's death than the Circus previously imagined? Le Carre's debut novel, Call for the Dead, introduced the tenacious and retiring George Smiley in a gripping tale of espionage and deceit.

The Smiley Collection

Janice Hopper

I normally avoid book about spies and mafia/gangsters like the plague. I just don't want to read about those kinds of people. But I've heard for ages about how good John le Careé's writing is. I picked this one up on Audible in a recent sale.

So: my first le Carré novel. We meed George Smiley and learn a little backstory on him. And there are other spies, and other miscreants, and a murder. And there's treachery. And a bit of mystery.

And it's very good, even if I still hate the subject matter.

I listened to the Audible version narrated by Michael Jayston. He had the perfect dry English voice for this book. The book isn't long - I listened to the whole thing while I was prepping my sister's house for sale.

Tom Turner

Knowing this is le Carré's first novel is in my opinion key to appreciating this book. Even if you don't know much about le Carré you probably DO know his reputation for complex plotting. If you come to Call For The Dead expecting plotting that you get in his later work you may be disappointed. In no way am I saying the plotting here is bad, far from it indeed. The plot is well crafted, and in the hands of any other author may be perceived as a great work. However, with le Carré we have come to expect more, and you can tell this is a man honing his craft. It is a very good access book for new readers of le Carré as long as that reader is aware that it gets more complex the further into le Carré's world you go, so you don't get daunted the deeper into this world you go.

Jeff Dlouhy

Giada

Christopher McCabe

Sarah Sammis

Ivy Vatsala

After a routine security check by George Smiley, civil servant Samuel Fennan apparently kills himself. When Smiley finds Circus head Maston is trying to blame him for the death, he begins his own investigation, meeting Fennan's widow to find out what led him to such desperation. On the very day Smiley is ordered off the enquiry he receives an urgent letter from the dead man. Do the East Germans - and their agents - know more about this man's death than the Circus previously imagined? Le Carré's first book, Call for the Dead, introduced the tenacious and retiring spy George Smiley in a gripping tale of espionage and deceit. 'Intelligent, thrilling, surprising . . . makes most cloak-and-dagger stuff taste of cardboard.' Sunday Telegraph 'Brilliant. Realistic. Constant suspense.' Observer The first George Smiley novel

Daniel Gynn

Philip Ledingham

Dmitry Gorshkov

Jeff James

British undercover agent George Smiley accepts one final mission to reveal an insidious plot which may involve a suspect civil servant and a one-time hero of the German underground.

Call For The Dead

Reviews