John le Carré

From the master of spy thrillers, John le Carré's The Spy Who Came in from the Cold is a gripping story of love and betrayal at the height of the Cold War. This Penguin Modern Classics edition includes an afterword by the author and an introduction by William Boyd, author of Any Human Heart.Alec Leamas is tired. It's the 1960s, he's been out in the cold for years, spying in the shadow of the Berlin Wall for his British masters. He has seen too many good agents murdered for their troubles. Now Control wants to bring him in at last - but only after one final assignment. He must travel deep into the heart of Communist Germany and betray his country, a job that he will do with his usual cynical professionalism. But when George Smiley tries to help a young woman Leamas has befriended, Leamas's mission may prove to be the worst thing he could ever have done. In le Carré's breakthrough work of 1963, the spy story is reborn as a gritty and terrible tale of men who are caught up in politics beyond their imagining. 'A portrait of a man who has lived by lies and subterfuge for so long, he's forgotten how to tell the truth' Time'He can communicate emotion, from sweating fear to despairing love, with terse and compassionate conviction. Above all, he can tell a tale' Sunday Times

'A stunning story' Wall Street JournalA mole, implanted by Moscow Centre, has infiltrated the highest ranks of the British Intelligence Service, almost destroying it in the process. And so former spymaster George Smiley has been brought out of retirement in order to hunt down the traitor at the very heart of the Circus - even though it may be one of those closest to him.The first part of le Carré's acclaimed Karla Trilogy, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy sees the beginning of the stealthy Cold War cat-and-mouse game between the taciturn, dogged Smiley and his wily Soviet counterpart.'A great thriller, the best le Carré has written' SpectatorTHE FIFTH GEORGE SMILEY NOVEL

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Legacy of Spies and The Night Manager, now an AMC miniseries He is Harry Pendel: Exclusive tailor to Panama's most powerful men. Informant to British Intelligence. The perfect spy in a country rife with corruption and revolution. What his "handlers" don't realize is that Harry has a hidden agenda of his own. Deceiving his friends, his wife, and practically himself, he'll weave a plot so fabulous it exceeds his own vivid imagination. But when events start to spin out of control, Harry is suddenly in over his head--thrown into a lethal maze of politics and espionage, with unthinkable consequences. . . . Praise for The Tailor of Panama "Entertaining . . . a riotous, readable novel . . . A worthy successor to Graham Greene's most wicked entertainments."--The New York Times "Riveting . . . Le Carr has cut another masterpiece."--Los Angeles Times "What makes le Carr the reigning grand master of espionage fiction? . . . Craft, certainly; he maintains an almost magnificent control of material, pace, dialogue, characterization."--The Baltimore Sun "Brilliant . . . Le Carr remains fair in front of his field, a startlingly up-to-date storyteller who writes as well about the shadows around the power elite as anyone alive."--Publishers Weekly (starred review)

Aiming to lay bare the act of blatant state terrorism that is the invasion and occupation of Iraq, this book seeks to reveal the extraordinary tapestry of lies, distortions and gross media manipulation that underpin it. It looks at how public opinion is wilfully ignored and "democracy" used as a figleaf for the furthering of colonial ambitions.

All cats are alike in the dark. For the first time ever, a novel by John le Carré is brought to life in a thrilling stage adaptation by award-winning playwright David Eldridge (Beginning, Middle & End). Alec Leamas is ready to come in from the cold but when Control, the Head of the British Secret Intelligence Service, presents one final mission he agrees to stay in the game. However, Leamas has committed a cardinal error: he’s fallen in love. And what is veteran spymaster George Smiley’s role in the operation? After a lifetime of deception and betrayal, can there be room for humanity in the ruthlessly manipulative world of international espionage? Following a sold-out run at Chichester Festival Theatre, this edition was published to coincide with the West End premiere production at @sohoplace in November 2025.

From the master of spy thrillers, John le Carré's The Spy Who Came in from the Cold is a gripping story of love and betrayal at the height of the Cold War, published as a beautiful Penguin Clothbound Classics edition for the first timeAlec Leamas is tired. It's the 1960s, he's been out in the cold for years, spying in the shadow of the Berlin Wall for his British masters. He has seen too many good agents murdered for their troubles. Now Control wants to bring him in at last - but only after one final assignment. He must travel deep into the heart of Communist Germany and betray his country, a job that he will do with his usual cynical professionalism. But when George Smiley tries to help a young woman Leamas has befriended, Leamas's mission may prove to be the worst thing he could ever have done. In le Carré's breakthrough work of 1963, the spy story is reborn as a gritty and terrible tale of men who are caught up in politics beyond their imagining.'A portrait of a man who has lived by lies and subterfuge for so long, he's forgotten how to tell the truth'TIME'He can communicate emotion, from sweating fear to despairing love, with terse and compassionate conviction. Above all, he can tell a tale'Sunday Times

A gripping new novel set in the universe of John le Carré's most iconic spy, George Smiley, written by acclaimed novelist Nick HarkawaySet in the missing decade between two iconic instalments in the George Smiley saga, The Spy Who Came in from the Cold and Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, Nick Harkaway's Karla's Choice is an extraordinary, thrilling return to the world of spy fiction's greatest writer, John le Carré.It is spring in 1963 and George Smiley has left the Circus. With the wreckage of the West's spy war with the Soviets strewn across Europe, he has eyes only on a more peaceful life. And indeed, with his marriage more secure than ever, there is a rumour in Whitehall – unconfirmed and a little scandalous – that George Smiley might almost be happy.But Control has other plans. A Russian agent has defected in the most unusual of circumstances, and the man he was sent to kill in London is nowhere to be found. Smiley reluctantly agrees to one last simple task: interview Susanna, a Hungarian émigré and employee of the missing man, and sniff out a lead. But in his absence the shadows of Moscow have lengthened. Smiley will soon find himself entangled in a perilous mystery that will define the battles to come, and strike at the heart of his greatest enemy…

It is spring in 1963 and George Smiley has left the Circus. With the wreckage of the West's spy war with the Soviets strewn across Europe, he has eyes only on a more peaceful life. And indeed, with his marriage more secure than ever, there is a rumour in Whitehall - unconfirmed and a little scandalous - that George Smiley might almost be happy.But Control has other plans. A Russian agent has defected in the most unusual of circumstances, and the man he was sent to kill in London is nowhere to be found. Smiley reluctantly agrees to one last simple task: interview Susanna, a Hungarian emigre and employee of the missing man, and sniff out a lead. But in his absence the shadows of Moscow have lengthened. Smiley will soon find himself entangled in a perilous mystery that will define the battles to come, and strike at the heart of his greatest enemy...Set in the missing decade between two iconic instalments in the George Smiley saga, The Spy Who Came in from the Cold and Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, Nick Harkaway's Karla's Choice is an extraordinary, thrilling return to the world of spy fiction's greatest writer, John le Carre.

DISCOVER THE MOST-TALKED ABOUT THRILLER OF THE YEAR . . .‘Reads like a lost le Carrè. Smiley is back at the Circus in the safest of hands’ RICHARD OSMAN‘Karla’s Choice is a note-perfect tribute to le Carré that feels fresh and new’ MICK HERRON‘Le Carre’s legacy is in good hands – Smiley is back with a vengeance!’ IAN RANKIN--- --- ---It is spring in 1963 and George Smiley has left the Circus.With the wreckage of the West's spy war with the Soviets strewn across Europe, he has eyes only on a more peaceful life. And indeed, with his marriage more secure than ever, there is a rumour in Whitehall – unconfirmed and a little scandalous – that George Smiley might almost be happy.But Control has other plans. A Russian agent has defected in the most unusual of circumstances, and the man he was sent to kill in London is nowhere to be found. Smiley reluctantly agrees to one last simple task: interview Susanna, a Hungarian émigré and employee of the missing man, and sniff out a lead.But in his absence the shadows of Moscow have lengthened. Smiley will soon find himself entangled in a perilous mystery that will define the battles to come, and strike at the heart of his greatest enemy…--- --- ---Set in the missing decade between two iconic novels starring George Smiley, The Spy Who Came in from the Cold and Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, this is an extraordinary, thrilling return to the world of spymaster John le Carré, written by the author’s son and acclaimed novelist, Nick Harkaway.‘An exceptional espionage novel in its own right’ WILLIAM BOYD‘Harkaway has done an extraordinarily good job with his father’s legacy’ TELEGRAPH‘An accomplished homage and a captivating thriller’ THE ECONOMIST

All cats are alike in the dark.At the height of the Cold War, disillusioned British spy Alec Leamas is persuaded to stay out ‘in the cold’ for one last risky operation against the powerful leader of the East German Secret Service.But Leamas has committed a cardinal error: he’s fallen in love. After a lifetime of deception and betrayal, can there be room for humanity in the ruthlessly manipulative world of international espionage?The first ever John le Carré novel to be adapted for the stage, this award-winning 1963 thriller has been hailed as a modern masterpiece. Leading playwright David Eldridge creates this gripping theatrical version.This edition was published to coincide with the world premiere at Chichester Festival Theatre in August 2024.

To catch a criminal, he must become oneJonathan Pine, night manager of a luxury Swiss hotel, has a secret. He knows that the guest he awaits, billionaire trader Richard Roper, is ‘the worst man in the world.’ And he knows why. Pine will do whatever it takes to help the Intelligence services bring Roper down – even if it means going deep undercover into a ruthless, lawless world, up against forces more dangerous than he can imagine.

Discover the new Penguin Crime and Espionage seriesA Russian mole has infiltrated the British establishment - and the spymaster Smiley must dig them out...George Smiley, formerly of the Secret Intelligence Service, is contemplating his new life in retirement when he is called back on an unexpected mission. His task is to hunt down an agent implanted by Moscow Central at the very heart of the Circus - one who has been buried deep there for years. The dogged, troubled Smiley can discount nobody from being the traitor, even if it is one of those closest to him.

I En naiv og sentimental elsker (fra 1971) forlater John le Carré spionromanens verden og forteller et stort eventyr om livet og kjærligheten: I håp om å endelig finne lykken, bryter en mann seg fri fra all sikkerhet knyttet til sitt borgerlige liv. En avgjørelse som skal få dramatiske konsekvenser, ikke bare for ham selv.Entreprenør Aldo Cassidy er lei av den glatte fasaden relatert til yrkesmessig suksess, familie og statussymboler. Da han møter bohemekteparet Shamus og Helen, blir han fascinert av den bekymringsløse livsstilen. Han utvikler et lidenskapelig vennskap med begge – men tilværelsen preget av hensynsløs hedonisme truer etter hvert med å fortære dem alle.

'The new crime and espionage series from Penguin Classics makes for a mouth-watering prospect' Daily TelegraphAn apparent suicide. A deepening mystery. A letter from a dead man...Secret agent George Smiley is in trouble. A Foreign Office civil servant, Samuel Fennan, has killed himself, and Smiley realizes that Intelligence head Maston is going to set him up to take the blame. Beginning his own investigation, Smiley is shocked to receive an urgent letter from the dead man, and slowly uncovers a network of deceit and betrayal. Le Carré's debut novel was also the first of his many books to feature the tenacious, unassuming and singular George Smiley.