The Secret Pilgrim (Dramatised) Audiobook

" Excellent way for Le Carre to phase out Smiley. "

" This is the last of the George Smiley novels, and Smiley is not really even its central character. Rather, he serves as a kind of narrative frame for the story, and Le Carre uses him much of the time as mouthpiece for extended thoughts on the end of the Cold War. It is much less great than the best of Le Carre's work, but it is gripping and interesting anyway--if sometimes preachy and didactic--and it has flashes of the writer in his prime. "

" Well, it's rather a slog because the whole book is exposition. It is a colleague of Smiley's telling the reader several stories of which he played a major or minor part in the past. None of the stories which make up this book are incredibly interesting, although there are a few moments that make you really want to turn the page. Not my favorite le Carre. "

" As unlikely as it should be for my reading habits, I read this one in the George Smiley series first. It was, for me, a unique approach to the cold war and the odd coordinations that went on to achieve national security and secret information gathering. Truly enjoyed the chapters that played out like short stories to color the work of one of Her Majesty's spies. "

" I guess with John Le Carre there is no such thing as a happy ending. It's always bittersweet at best. I think that with age I will appreciate it more, but now I wish for something more definitive. "

" Entertaining book of short stories threaded together into a loose Smiley narrative. Fun, generally-predictable Russia House and Circus intrigue. Maybe I've been reading too much Le Carre of late... but it felt a little more forced, like an Alfred Hitchcock Presents compendium. "

" This is like a bunch of small Le Carre novels rolled into one. All thought provoking and interesting. "

" The first LeCarre book I ever read; it is a compilation of short stories that is fast paced and intriguing. "

" Another book on the Smiley's series. Not so good as the others. "

" I`m a fussy and unfortunately lazy reader so I don`t want to make unfair comments about this particular book. It just didn`t click in and I`ve already read better Le Carre`s books. "

" I have read most of his books. I love his mystery and the way that he builds it. "

" Quite a gentle one here. Its something like a book of short stories crafted into a novel - tales looking back over a lifetime of spying. Not much glamour, quite a lot of regret. Beautifully written and put together as usual. Borrowed from the Histon Library. "

" I'm a big fan of LeCarre'. And this is very good. Not maybe his best. A series of really short-stories, tales, from the vantage point of 'Ned'. Pulls together some of the threads from his earlier novels, wrapped around the character George Smiley. Worth it. "

" Using this type of chronicling in journeying back in Ned's career was a wonderful writing technique. "

" Well... this was my first Le Carre... and i was impressed by this.. this one for more a look back at the life of the main protogonist.. (Ned).. its an easy read.. the way Le Carre recreates post war Europe and the heights of espionage is just superb.. "

" A reflection on the end of the Cold War. A bit of George Smiley and a lot of one of his spies. "

" Remembrances of past spy experiences "

" A very reflective book but one which raises a lot of questions, examining the underside of intelligence work. Well worth the read. "

" A masterpiece by Le Carre exploring the morality/amorality of the politics of the West & of the Intelligence community. Great compassion - I think it's one of his best. "