Smiley's People by John Le Carre'

George Smiley is after Karla, the Soviet spy-master again. It’s his obsession. His life. The way he defines himself.

He wondered, as so often before, how he would have turned out if he had had Karla’s childhood, had been fired in the same kilns of revolutionary upheaval. He tried but, as so often before, failed to resist his own fascination at the sheer scale of the Russian suffering, its careless savagery, its flights of heroism. He felt small in the face of it, and soft by comparison, even though he did not consider his own life wanting in pains.

Smiley’s People takes place a few years after The Honourable Schoolboy. Smiley is supposed to be retired, but new, and very troubling events put him back on Karla’s trail. The story is dominated by Smiley’s solo detective work, which he carries out in his usual quiet, unassuming and very competent way. Of course he has valuable resources, including his “people,” but, really, he’s practically a superhero. Okay, so not a very flashy superhero, but a short and pudgy one who polishes his glasses with the fat end of his tie.

I think that the characters who serve as “Smiley’s people” are not adequately defined as the folks whose talents are at his disposal. Several familiar characters from Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy and The Honourable Schoolboy make appearances not just as Smiley’s resources, but as his protégés and devotees. They respect him – practically worship him – trust him, would do anything for him at any time. They even are happy for him when he is not happy for himself, celebrate excitedly for him when he cannot. It’s loyalty to Smiley that makes them “Smiley’s people.” He does not necessarily claim them as his own so much as they claim him as theirs.

This novel was so entertaining to read. It is full of nonstop intrigue and a sort of stewing, practically action-less suspense (another “heartburn thriller”!). It’s also characteristically loaded with Le Carré’s brilliant, engaging language, phrasing and descriptions. Light and succinct lines like, “Hilda was a divorced woman of some speed,” and “ ‘George has got too many heads under his hat’” (spoken with sympathy by one of his people) make this great story roll along even more enjoyably.  I was quite sorry when this novel was over. And I don’t think I’m giving too much away if I say that George Smiley seemed a little sorry that it was over, too.

You might also like Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy and The Honourable Schoolboy

Coming soon: Prodigal Summer by Barbara Kingsolver

  

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