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Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
Smiley, wrestling with retirement and disillusionment, is summoned to a secret meeting with a member of the Cabinet Office. Evidence has emerged that the Circus has been infiltrated at the highest level by a Russian agent. Find the mole, George. Clean the stables. Do whatever is necessary. Reluctantly Smiley agrees, and so embarks on a dark journey into his past a past filled with love, duplicity, and betrayal.
Starring the award-winning Simon Russell Beale as Smiley, and with an all-star cast, including Anna Chancellor, Alex Jennings, Kenneth Cranham, and Bill Paterson, this epic dramatization brilliantly depicts the complicated moral dilemmas of post-war espionage. This classic spy thriller is the first in the Karla trilogy.
This adaptation was first broadcast on BBC Radio 4 - 29 November to 13 December 2009.
Starring the award-winning Simon Russell Beale as Smiley, and with an all-star cast, including Anna Chancellor, Alex Jennings, Kenneth Cranham, and Bill Paterson, this epic dramatization brilliantly depicts the complicated moral dilemmas of post-war espionage. This classic spy thriller is the first in the Karla trilogy.
This adaptation was first broadcast on BBC Radio 4 - 29 November to 13 December 2009.
3 pages, Audio CD
First published January 1, 2010
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About the author
Shaun McKenna
34 booksShaun McKenna (born 1957 in Maidstone, Kent) is an English dramatist, lyricist and screenwriter.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
November 11, 2025
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy by John le Carre - marvelous fiction included on The Realini’s Best 250 Novels list http://realini.blogspot.com/2022/02/u... and the 1,000 Novels Everyone Must Read compilation
10 out of 10
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy may not be the ultimate manual of the spy in the field in 2022, but it is more than relevant in that it would still offer insight into the way of thinking of modern day Karla aka Putin, the former KGB agent that has invaded Ukraine, killed tens of thousands, crushed opposition, is bringing famine to the world - the latest issue of The Economist has the problem of hunger on the cover and dedicates special coverage to the apocalyptic situation that four hundred million could face soon, as the grain from Ukraine is waiting in silos, the crops to be harvested in fall will rot on fields and there will be a much smaller expectation of wheat, maize for next year – thus we need this type of insight into the mind of agents, especially the soviet kind, given that Putin had been an active spy in East Germany and he clearly manifests the ruthlessness, cruelty, determination, impassive manner, concentrated, focused approach that were specific to these ‘scalp hunters’ that do not give a shit about…well, anything
There is a joke that they used to have in Finland - which is trying to join NATO now, if only the other, smaller aspiring tyrant, ErDo-Goddamn of Turkey will allow it, for he is bent on eliminating all opposition, in the country he had jailed a record number [in the world] of journalists and critics, but he wants them out of action everywhere, including in the Nordic countries, now that he thinks he can blackmail…you know what, they should kick him out or at least give him time on the sidelines [yes, I know it is not feasible, but what the hell, this is just an insignificant note, where this Circus is looking at ways to reshape the world, in a bathtub] and since that is not workable, all countries should have bilateral arrangements with the two, meaning that all will come to the rescue, except for Erdo-Goddamn, and I have my qualms about the Nordics, who are too arrogant, self-important, cold, aloof and precious often, but there is need for unity in the face of Karla Putin and his acolytes, until Navalny or someone like him takes the reins and Insha’Allah, he does better than the Present Kremlin Shorty http://realini.blogspot.com/2020/04/g... and turns Russia around
The Finnish joke had a border guard asking the name of a visitor, the latter says Vladimir Putin, and when the latter is asked about occupation, he responds ‘not now, just visiting’ it would be something that was ‘true’, feared in all of Eastern Europe, unless there was a vicious despot at the helm, and even then, the one we had here, Ceausescu, veered off from the official doctrine of the Warsaw pact and could face reprisals– Ceasca would not take part in the invasion of Czechoslovakia in the spring of 1968 for instance and decided to participate at the Olympics in los angles, when all the other soviet bloc states stayed home, but these were moves that gained him plaudits abroad, while he would prepare for a vicious oppression at home…I am proud to say that I took part in the Revolution that took him out, literally and figuratively, and even if I had not fought for days with a machine gun in the woods or a steel plant (like heroic Ukrainians have been doing for the last here months) and I only spent a few hours facing the militia (maybe they were Securitate, or army) and possible detention or death, it is still much more than the false fighters had done to acquire a certificate and financial gains…
http://realini.blogspot.com/2022/03/r... this link offers the proof, the reporter Michael Meyers from Newsweek and head of the Vienna office if I remember this right, was covering the events, we met and he quotes me in the article available (well, the important piece, that which has me inside) on my blog…extraordinarily, I would next meet exactly with the competition (Radio Sweden, Helsingin Sanomat, a major Finnish newspaper for which I did some limited work, back in 1990, would come later) James Wilde, a phenomenal clairvoyant that would say exactly what the neo commies would do, how they will take part in elections, despite denying it, winning and staying in power to this day (though descendants and some of the dinosaurs left alive), from TIME Magazine…
now let me try and come back to George Smiley and his nemesis, Karla, and say that the psychological insight is outstanding, the magician John le Carre has such talent as to captivate audiences of this day and age, although it would be interesting to get the impressions of the younger readers, who would be puzzled by the communications of the Cold War – they have to call an official and he has left the number in the country, where he is vacationing, and since there is an emergency or even a catastrophe for the Circus happening in Czechoslovakia (as it was then), there is another telephone they have to call, where he is invited and there, they say he had just left…in other words, there were no smart phones to use and this is such a game change now, when some documentaries mention the nice changes in other domains…take the identity which was assumed in the time of George Smiley, with false passports and documents, now, when there is facial recognition, once some agent has used one ID, he or she or they (would they have transgender in the Secret Services now) must keep using the same, otherwise the technology would recognize the attempt to use a different set of papers with a face that had been associated already with an identity and hence they will ban forever that spy (they also have in mind terrorists, criminals when they add this type of attempt to the persona non grata list)
in our age, The Snowdens and Asanges of the world are much more dangerous and monstrous than Carla, or any of the double agents that we find in John le Carre, or indeed, in real life (there have been infamous cases of betrayal of top agents that had worked for Moscow Kim Philby and the others, known as The Cambridge Five, KGB moles) for they took out on mobile memory units names of thousands of spies and informers around the world, many of them shot and killed as a result of this calamitous, sadistic, monstrous exposure – apparently, the vile, disgusting Assange kept saying he did it in the name of ‘freedom of speech’, though how helping Putin and other tyrants gets the world to that is something he could not explain, his reason for this Armageddon was narcissism and his acting like a psychopath, careless for the death of multitudes http://realini.blogspot.com/2022/04/8...
reading about George Smiley and the others made me think of my own attempt at adding a spy to the network – I had been infatuated with this girl that was acting strangely and so I decided to try and propose that she works as a spy, insinuating that I am in a position to recommend her, with the intent of seeing what she says, is she willing to abandon all, including me, for this, is she ready to sleep, with some, many, battalions, since supposedly it is part of the job description…there were elements in that scenario, but it has to end here, however, if you are curious, these type of Tailor Tinker stories are on the blog http://realini.blogspot.com/
10 out of 10
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy may not be the ultimate manual of the spy in the field in 2022, but it is more than relevant in that it would still offer insight into the way of thinking of modern day Karla aka Putin, the former KGB agent that has invaded Ukraine, killed tens of thousands, crushed opposition, is bringing famine to the world - the latest issue of The Economist has the problem of hunger on the cover and dedicates special coverage to the apocalyptic situation that four hundred million could face soon, as the grain from Ukraine is waiting in silos, the crops to be harvested in fall will rot on fields and there will be a much smaller expectation of wheat, maize for next year – thus we need this type of insight into the mind of agents, especially the soviet kind, given that Putin had been an active spy in East Germany and he clearly manifests the ruthlessness, cruelty, determination, impassive manner, concentrated, focused approach that were specific to these ‘scalp hunters’ that do not give a shit about…well, anything
There is a joke that they used to have in Finland - which is trying to join NATO now, if only the other, smaller aspiring tyrant, ErDo-Goddamn of Turkey will allow it, for he is bent on eliminating all opposition, in the country he had jailed a record number [in the world] of journalists and critics, but he wants them out of action everywhere, including in the Nordic countries, now that he thinks he can blackmail…you know what, they should kick him out or at least give him time on the sidelines [yes, I know it is not feasible, but what the hell, this is just an insignificant note, where this Circus is looking at ways to reshape the world, in a bathtub] and since that is not workable, all countries should have bilateral arrangements with the two, meaning that all will come to the rescue, except for Erdo-Goddamn, and I have my qualms about the Nordics, who are too arrogant, self-important, cold, aloof and precious often, but there is need for unity in the face of Karla Putin and his acolytes, until Navalny or someone like him takes the reins and Insha’Allah, he does better than the Present Kremlin Shorty http://realini.blogspot.com/2020/04/g... and turns Russia around
The Finnish joke had a border guard asking the name of a visitor, the latter says Vladimir Putin, and when the latter is asked about occupation, he responds ‘not now, just visiting’ it would be something that was ‘true’, feared in all of Eastern Europe, unless there was a vicious despot at the helm, and even then, the one we had here, Ceausescu, veered off from the official doctrine of the Warsaw pact and could face reprisals– Ceasca would not take part in the invasion of Czechoslovakia in the spring of 1968 for instance and decided to participate at the Olympics in los angles, when all the other soviet bloc states stayed home, but these were moves that gained him plaudits abroad, while he would prepare for a vicious oppression at home…I am proud to say that I took part in the Revolution that took him out, literally and figuratively, and even if I had not fought for days with a machine gun in the woods or a steel plant (like heroic Ukrainians have been doing for the last here months) and I only spent a few hours facing the militia (maybe they were Securitate, or army) and possible detention or death, it is still much more than the false fighters had done to acquire a certificate and financial gains…
http://realini.blogspot.com/2022/03/r... this link offers the proof, the reporter Michael Meyers from Newsweek and head of the Vienna office if I remember this right, was covering the events, we met and he quotes me in the article available (well, the important piece, that which has me inside) on my blog…extraordinarily, I would next meet exactly with the competition (Radio Sweden, Helsingin Sanomat, a major Finnish newspaper for which I did some limited work, back in 1990, would come later) James Wilde, a phenomenal clairvoyant that would say exactly what the neo commies would do, how they will take part in elections, despite denying it, winning and staying in power to this day (though descendants and some of the dinosaurs left alive), from TIME Magazine…
now let me try and come back to George Smiley and his nemesis, Karla, and say that the psychological insight is outstanding, the magician John le Carre has such talent as to captivate audiences of this day and age, although it would be interesting to get the impressions of the younger readers, who would be puzzled by the communications of the Cold War – they have to call an official and he has left the number in the country, where he is vacationing, and since there is an emergency or even a catastrophe for the Circus happening in Czechoslovakia (as it was then), there is another telephone they have to call, where he is invited and there, they say he had just left…in other words, there were no smart phones to use and this is such a game change now, when some documentaries mention the nice changes in other domains…take the identity which was assumed in the time of George Smiley, with false passports and documents, now, when there is facial recognition, once some agent has used one ID, he or she or they (would they have transgender in the Secret Services now) must keep using the same, otherwise the technology would recognize the attempt to use a different set of papers with a face that had been associated already with an identity and hence they will ban forever that spy (they also have in mind terrorists, criminals when they add this type of attempt to the persona non grata list)
in our age, The Snowdens and Asanges of the world are much more dangerous and monstrous than Carla, or any of the double agents that we find in John le Carre, or indeed, in real life (there have been infamous cases of betrayal of top agents that had worked for Moscow Kim Philby and the others, known as The Cambridge Five, KGB moles) for they took out on mobile memory units names of thousands of spies and informers around the world, many of them shot and killed as a result of this calamitous, sadistic, monstrous exposure – apparently, the vile, disgusting Assange kept saying he did it in the name of ‘freedom of speech’, though how helping Putin and other tyrants gets the world to that is something he could not explain, his reason for this Armageddon was narcissism and his acting like a psychopath, careless for the death of multitudes http://realini.blogspot.com/2022/04/8...
reading about George Smiley and the others made me think of my own attempt at adding a spy to the network – I had been infatuated with this girl that was acting strangely and so I decided to try and propose that she works as a spy, insinuating that I am in a position to recommend her, with the intent of seeing what she says, is she willing to abandon all, including me, for this, is she ready to sleep, with some, many, battalions, since supposedly it is part of the job description…there were elements in that scenario, but it has to end here, however, if you are curious, these type of Tailor Tinker stories are on the blog http://realini.blogspot.com/
August 31, 2019
Very intricate, clever, and intense. The book is a classic spy novel written by an experienced and seasoned master author.
April 14, 2012
I am becoming a born again le Carre fan, or maybe just a Smiley fan :) read the books yonks ago, then watched the classic Alec Guiness BBC TV dramatisation. Only recently saw the newer film version with Gary Oldman in which I liked Colin Firth's Bill Hayden, so have now gone back to the original and revelling in it. This audio verion is read by Michael Jayston who played Peter Guillam in the BBC drama. He does a fine job narrating here, I can even still here Sir Alec wafting through. Think I miight plan to listen to more in the series. Nice trip down memory lane. I'd fogotton how good Le Carre's plots are, and all the detail inevitably missed in dramatisations and movies nomatter how good they are.
November 1, 2014
Classic spy novel featuring George Smiley, who has been retired from the service but is asked to look into the possibility of a Soviet mole. Very well written with memorable characters, realistic situations, and lots of tension and intrigue. Listened to the audio version which was excellently read by Frank Muller.
June 26, 2022
BBC radio adaptations always strike gold
December 20, 2023
This was a great quick listen through my online library to get an idea what the story was about. It was a bit hard to follow with so many characters and similar voices, and not enough repetition of their names. But the story was good with a solid ending and I think I’ll probably go watch the film now.
July 31, 2025
Audiobook: BBC Full Cast Adaptation
Dramatised By: Shaun McKenna
Narrators: Simon Russell Beale et al.
What can I say? It's the BBC and they do "radio plays" quite well. Made me want to revisit Gary Oldman's George Smiley.
Dramatised By: Shaun McKenna
Narrators: Simon Russell Beale et al.
What can I say? It's the BBC and they do "radio plays" quite well. Made me want to revisit Gary Oldman's George Smiley.
March 29, 2024
Enjoyable radio adaption!
October 3, 2024
Cogent abridgement of the convoluted LeCarre story of moles, betrayals, long games and secrets. A good evening entertainment, no matter if one has read the book or seen the television adaptations. The reader/listener will always find something they missed in a previous visit.
December 17, 2024
A marvelous adaptation.
June 13, 2025
This is perhaps Le Carré's masterpiece: this shifting, twisting tale of subterfuge and betrayal. It's all so very British; no fisticuffs, no gunplay, just people talking and thinking and setting a trap for a mole in The Circus. This is an excellent audio adaptation.
July 29, 2016
I listened to a full cast dramatization of the book, it was short, about three hours in total. This book was not exactly what I was expecting. I am not a big reader of spy books, I tend to get confused by the many players in the cast. In that regard, this book fit into the category. I lost track of who exactly was who. However, as a short read, it was quick-paced. There were some action scenes, but it seemed to be more intrigue and solving the mystery of who is the Russian spy operating undercover and working as a British spy. I enjoyed reading this book since I haven't read many spy novels, and this is a well regarded example of the genre. Since it's not the type of book I prefer to read, it didn't cause me to put any other spy books on my to read list.
January 14, 2015
I enjoyed this dramatic production but I found that all of the voices sounded alike after awhile and I had trouble keeping the characters straight. I was not as invested in the story as I might have been had I had a book in front of me. I would like to read the book and then perhaps listen to the audio again.
August 9, 2017
Listened to this dramatization on audio which was excellent but ultimately not satisfying--it seemed too much was left out. Convincing encounters, events, characters. The settings were perfectly established, the mood of foreboding precisely developed. Le Carre is the paradigm for all spy novels. Here, a mole has reached the highest level of the Circus and must be found.
June 22, 2010
A friend kept bugging me to read this and it was worth it. An excellently paced and written thriller. LeCarre writes within his genre but also beyond because he has such talent as a writer. A great read.
November 20, 2018
This is the second John le Carre spy novel I've read and now I want to start at the beginning and read them all! This particular audio edition was a radio dramatization rather than a narration. It was very well done, but sometimes it moved quickly and it was hard to figure out who was speaking.
September 9, 2018
This story might have been better read than listened to on audiobook; the reader made it sound like the book was full of these wild tangents that were completely unnecessary. The story picked up around halfway through, which is why it is getting 3 stars instead of 2.
Read
November 18, 2019I want to get the book from the library. The audiobook from the BBC is hard to follow and I feel like it assumes people are seeing sets and interactions at some points. One of the few times I’d rather just have a normal reading. Kind of annoying.
May 12, 2020
This is a complex thriller about the Cold War and Britain's Secret Service of spies. The story starts slowly but the tension grows and you find yourself as anxious as any to know who is the double agent. The denouement provides a suitable climax. Thoroughly good read.
August 13, 2020
This was a short listen and a super fast-paced book. Not sure I got all the connections (I see this is number 5 in the series) but it was still enjoyable. This audio version is like listening to a movie with sound effects and a full cast, very interesting.
Read
August 12, 2011.
April 6, 2015
A very nicely done radio drama adaptation of Le Carre's book, with a few plot holes that the film left un-addressed repaired.
August 22, 2018
Great performance by the actors and a story that really holds your attention. Now to watch the movie!
December 19, 2019
The audiobook was a little better than the movie, but if I'd realized it was dramatized I never would have checked it out.
June 30, 2020
Wow... took me a second listen to really grasp the story. It was a great listen.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews