The Spy Who Came In From The Cold

Written by John le Carré and Robert Forest

Narrated by Brian Cox, Full Cast, Ruth Gemmell and Simon Russell Beale

George Smiley is one of the most brilliantly realised characters in British fiction. Bespectacled, tubby, eternally middle-aged and deceptively ordinary, he has a mind like a steel trap and is said to possess ‘the cunning of Satan and the conscience of a virgin’. It is 1962: the height of the Cold War and only months after the building of the Berlin Wall. Alec Leamas is a hard-working, hard-drinking British intelligence officer whose East Berlin network is in tatters. His agents are either on the run or dead, victims of the ruthlessly efficient East German counter-intelligence officer Hans-Dieter Mundt. Leamas is recalled to London where, to his surprise, instead of being washed up and consigned to a desk he's offered a chance to have his revenge by becoming a pawn in a brilliantly-conceived plot to destroy Mundt. But in order to do so he has to stay out in the cold a little longer... Starring the award-winning Simon Russell Beale as Smiley, and with a distinguished cast including Brian Cox as Alec Leamas, this tense, compelling dramatisation perfectly captures the atmosphere of le Carré's taut, intricate thriller.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BBC Digital Audio
• Release date: Aug 3, 2009
• ISBN: 9781408402450

John le Carré

John le Carré was born in 1931. His third novel, The Spy Who Came in from the Cold, secured him a worldwide reputation, which was consolidated by the acclaim for his trilogy: Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy; The Honorable Schoolboy; and Smiley’s People. His novels include The Constant Gardner, The Little Drummer Girl, A Perfect Spy, The Russia House, Our Game, The Tailor of Panama, and Single & Single. He lives in Cornwall, United Kingdom.

Reviews for The Spy Who Came In From The Cold

[zurilector · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

It's not one of the best from Master Le Carre, but it still has interesting elements, particularly a sharp critique of the immorality and incompetence of the intelligence services, with those typically English characters that John Le Carre reflects so well in his novels. (Translated from Spanish)

[Joan-Manel10 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Exciting, gripping, I even liked it more than the movie (which is saying something). George Smiley is the protagonist of this story based on real events that happened during the Cold War. Smiley had just retired; it was a forced retirement by Lacon, the right-hand man of the Minister. It was Lacon who informed him that before he died, Control (head of British Secret Services) had identified a mole in the Circus, and that now, from the outside, he was in a splendid position to investigate this serious matter. Smiley, recruiting Peter Guillam and Mendel, begins his investigations. He starts with the failed operation in Czechoslovakia where Jim Predaux is shot in the back, and the witchcraft operation, which involved using a supposed Russian mole, a certain Polyakov, from the Circus's perspective, whose head after Control's death was Percy Alleline. The goal was to give Polyakov false reports so that he could pass them on to the center in Moscow, namely to Karla, while Polyakov was getting authentic reports, a goldmine as Smiley put it. By pressuring the weakest link of the group, Toby Esterhase, they manage to get the address of the house where they meet Polyakov, and the operation to catch the mole begins. Once at the house, with everyone gathered and Smiley on the upper floor, barefoot, they discover that the first to leave was Bill Haydon, simply to pass the report directly to Karla, and head to another house where he would meet Polyakov again. Before they arrived, Guillam was waiting, and when Bill Haydon entered, he was immediately arrested; he ended up dead in a barrack waiting for his fate, thinking it would be Moscow. (Translated from Spanish)

[AlejoCeron · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Alec Leamas is the protagonist of this story, the guy, the spy who always knows what he must do, the one who sacrifices himself to fulfill his mission, it couldn't be any other way.

After being in the cold for some time (something typical, I suppose, of all those who dedicate themselves to that noble profession, because being in action all the time means a clear burnout), he is assigned a new mission that requires him to first travel from England to Holland, and then to reach his final destination in East Germany. Counterintelligence stands out as one of the main themes of the story, so one must pay close attention to understand, or better yet, to intuit which character is the hero and which one is the executioner. I think that's the best part of the story: the twists that occur as events unfold.

The setting is very fitting, and I believe that has been the highlight of the story. What could be better than the Germany of the Berlin Wall, with Brandenburg as a fixed point through which the characters pass? What could be better than a spy capable of crossing that wall due to his ability to pass himself off as a friend?

What I liked most, aside from the above, was the courtroom scene in which various actors in the story presented their ideas and conclusions about what was happening and the reasons why the other: another spy, another accused, should be the one who had infiltrated the system. At that point, discussions arise about aspects unrelated to the story, some political, others economic, but all very interesting. The story remains open; it is unclear what happens to the characters, which is good because it allows for speculation about their future.

My dear Diana Uribe, whom I usually listen to, has spoken a lot about these Le Carre books and praises them for everything they have represented from the perspective of the Cold War, so I had high expectations for them. Now, yes, interesting. Yes, entertaining, but I don't think this is a book I would read again, at least this one. It's good and that's it... (Translated from Spanish)

[Anderolatz · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Le Carre's novels are intricate, difficult, and meant to be read slowly. His characters hide much more than they show, and it is complicated to follow the plot. In Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, that difficulty, at least for me, has multiplied. I got lost in twists, half-words, back and forth in time... In short, I even watched the movie by Gary Oldman later, to see if it clarified the picture. A challenging mission even for Smiley himself. (Translated from Spanish)

[JuanCasco · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

Alec Leamas is a British agent in Germany during the Cold War, responsible for double agents on the Eastern side. But these agents begin to be killed, and due to this situation, his boss calls him to assign a new and dangerous mission: to kill the head of Eastern German intelligence.
Once again, I stumble upon Le Carré. I like and have read from the genre, but this book felt like a very heavy read and I really didn't understand much of the plot. I've seen on many pages that it's considered one of the best spy books, but it wasn't for me.
As I said before, I had already read this author, particularly his first novel "Call for the Dead," with which I had the same experience. I really think Le Carré is not for me haha, although I won't give up on him and will surely read something else or in a few years re-read this one, to see if I understand it better with more age.
Film trivia: there is an adaptation from 1965 that I haven't seen yet, but I hope to see it soon to see if it helps me understand the book better. (Translated from Spanish)

[Bady · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

One of the best spy novels I have read, and exclusively about espionage, without the noir elements found in other books.
A very classic spy plot, set in the midst of the Cold War in Berlin; you couldn't ask for more, plus with very straightforward characters and a plot full of twists, but credible twists, without trying to complicate things unnecessarily to fill pages.
The characters act as what they are, spies on a mission, regardless of collateral damage; well, not all act this way, but that’s something to discover in the novel. Additionally, here they were motivated by ideals.
I found it very believable; the life of spies during the Cold War must have been like this or very similar. (Translated from Spanish)

[Pablo's · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The Spy Who Came in from the Cold is the first book I read by the author and, if my fish memory doesn't fail me, the first in this genre, and it won't be the last in either case.
I didn't know what I was going to find, whether it would be a 007 and his all-glamorous world, and what arrives is a spy, gray, sordid, finished, and with a desire for revenge. During the Cold War in Soviet Berlin, a world of espionage, counter-espionage, betrayals, and double agents, where it's unclear who is a friend or enemy or when you stop being useful.
A novel that progresses slowly but keeps trapping you until the frenzied ending. (Translated from Spanish)

[Mateo10 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

? The Spy Who Came in from the Cold
✏️ John le Carré
? EditorialPlaneta
? Recommendation 8/10

Book purchased after attending the conference “In Search of John Le Carré” by the columnist, philologist, writer, and journalist from Seville, Francisco Robles, who said “great novelists like Le Carré are those who produce emotions that are hard to describe,” highlighting that his works The Spy Who Came in from the Cold and The Smiley's People have “exciting and stunning endings.”
My impression from the first page is that it's a book you read in black and white.

It is classified as the best spy novel of all time, a true classic.
Cold war, double agents, intrigue, suspense, an amoral world, without scruples, without respect for life, coldness, evil people, loyalty, betrayal,
The author, David Cornwell, who used the pseudonym John Le Carré, perfectly portrays this world of spies, as he was one of them. (Translated from Spanish)

[SrAMARILLO · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I hadn't read anything until John Le Carré's works and decided to read "The Spy Who Came in from the Cold," driven by the good reviews that hailed this piece as one of the best by the British author.

The first surprise I encountered was the absence of George Smiley (the character that lends his name to this series of novels by the author) in the lead role, although as I said, I still haven't had the pleasure of "meeting/reading" him; but what surprised me the most was, above all, the scarcity of action. Are Mr. Le Carré's novels set outside the conventional realm of this genre? I will have to find out in future installments... What I did witness from the beginning was that this is a novel that plunges you into the depths of espionage: showcasing its darkest side, the emotional and psychological toll on a spy, the strategies to deceive the enemy to emerge victorious, and above all, what limits one is willing to cross to fulfill their mission.

The reading is intense at times despite the minimal action, as it has a solid storyline based on a highly important element: counterintelligence. With the Berlin Wall as a backdrop, John Le Carré weaves a vast web in the form of a narrative plot and expands it throughout the novel; the result is a well-narrated and defined story that invites the reader to partake in the game.

The conversations between the characters also deserve a notable mention as they play a significant role at the core of the novel and serve as a catalyst for action. Alec Leamas is the protagonist of this story. A British agent with not a shred of charisma due to his "particular" personality. Leamas rather fits the archetype of a cold, sad, and unfortunate anti-hero whose life as a spy has taken a toll over the years; in other words, a perfect character for the grey and murky landscape of the novel.

In conclusion: "The Spy Who Came in from the Cold" has been a pleasant surprise. Writing about the less attractive and "known" part of this world has been quite a challenge and a great success on the part of the author. For this reason, this novel is considered one of the best in its genre; and at the time (1963), it broke the mold in this type of literature. When you add to that the author's narrative style, his mastery in crafting espionage plots, and the extensive knowledge and information he possesses, the reader can have multiple reasons to read this, his third novel, in the George Smiley series (although, as I mentioned before, Smiley does not play a leading role here). If, on the other hand, you’re looking to read a conventional spy novel with a wide range of action scenes, this may not be your book; though, who knows: it might surprise you, seduce you, and help you discover a new "subgenre" in the genre; that has been my case. (Translated from Spanish)

[Juanola3 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Confusing, many characters and little information about them. (Translated from Spanish)

[Geloblanco · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I am an unconditional fan of espionage literature. Interestingly, the most important writer of this type of novels was never my favorite. I acknowledge that his experience is unmatched by anyone else; he was part of MI5 and MI6, agencies of the British Secret Service. Personally, I prefer Frederick Forsyth, Ken Follett, or Tom Clancy; I suppose it's a matter of taste. The story takes us back to one of its main protagonists, George Smiley. This time, a retired collaborator of his, Peter Guillam, is called upon by the Secret Service to investigate some actions of his group during the Cold War. The new generations, lacking knowledge of that era, dare to judge and condemn those who fought and died on both sides of the Berlin Wall. As I said, I prefer other writers, but for lovers of this literature, it's highly recommended. (Translated from Spanish)

[jorge1283 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I have to say that I did not like it. I read online that it has been listed as one of the 100 best novels ever written, and I am not someone to dispute that. But to me, it seemed like a boring novel that unfolds, page by page, very slowly and without surprises.
I don't have much more to add. I did not abandon the reading of this novel because it is not something I like to do, and besides, I always anticipated the emergence of something that would excite me. And that did not happen. (Translated from Spanish)

[Fermín de Pas · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Good story, tough, as it couldn't be otherwise. Interesting if you like Le Carre. (Translated from Spanish)

[Drizzita · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

It has become quite heavy for me. It is not what I expected. (Translated from Spanish)

[Tatily · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A book that keeps you completely engaged from the beginning to the end, showing you a quite believable story with a twist that makes you think and reflect. Unfortunately, the protagonist mixes his work with his feelings, which leads to trouble for him. The twists in the story are very interesting, especially the ending. (Translated from Spanish)

[Bren · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

In a masterful way, John Le Carré introduces us to the world of espionage during the Cold War in this story set between England and what was once East Germany.

A truly striking intelligence war, where literally the strongest—or in this case, the smartest and best conspirator—survives.

Amid the cold and cruel nature of the espionage world, it is worth highlighting something in Le Carré’s narrative: he has created a well-rounded story, full of intricacies and twists, where there are some turns, and as a reader, one can only wait to see how far the involved parties will go. I have been genuinely surprised by each twist, discovering not once, but two or even three times that nothing is exactly what it seems. I do not know if things really worked this way back then, but what is true is that Le Carré makes it seem completely believable and immerses us in that world of espionage and counter-espionage that is, at the very least, fascinating.

The way John Le Carré works the dialogues in this book is genuinely brilliant; I have greatly enjoyed each and every one of them carried out among all the parties involved, with the interrogations standing out, of course. But beyond that, even though it is narrated by a third party, most of the book consists of dialogues.

This book was, of course, written during the height of the Cold War; therefore, the implications of what is recounted here are viewed differently in hindsight. However, in the end, it is impossible not to love this entire world of espionage, which, in this particular case, does not portray a James Bond at all. It is more of a thriller and suspense story than an adventure one.

A spectacular book. (Translated from Spanish)

[Alejandro00l · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Surely one of Le Carré's best books. A novel filled with suspense in a context where the Cold War is the main backdrop of the battle between the West and the East under the guise of espionage. (Translated from Spanish)

[Douglas · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The best of all the novels by the master, as I call him, of Cold War literature, LeCarre. (Translated from Spanish)

[CheloMarghe · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

It was a novel that I liked at the time, set during the Gulf War; it belongs to David Carré's more modern novels. A series has been made, but from what I saw, it doesn’t resemble it much.

Ideal for those who enjoy spy novels and intrigue. (Translated from Spanish)