It’s rare that I find myself recommending an audiobook in preference to the printed version, but after just completing John le Carré’s memoir The Pigeon Tunnel over the course of a series of long drives, I conclude that his flawless spoken delivery is, in this instance, half the fun. Le Carré, or “David Cornwell” as he is known to friends and on official documents, is the celebrated author of a score or more of espionage novels, the best-known of which is probably Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy. In recounting—not so much the story of his life as dozens of diverting stories from it, le Carré proves himself both a gifted raconteur and a wickedly skillful mimic: his Alec Guinness is particularly good. When I revisit the performance, as I certainly will at some point, I think I’ll put myself in a comfortable chair, with the lights dialed down and a spirituous beverage* at hand. Highest recommendation.

cordially,

*This was obviously not a feasible option while motoring.

…and this was adapted to the big screen in 1965. Tinker, Tailor is probably more familiar to people now living on the basis of the six-part television adaptation with Alec Guinness made in the late seventies, and the feature film version released five or six years ago. The novelist was also probably at the height of his powers when he wrote the latter book. Drop the name “George Smiley” and more people in the English-language readership will recognize it than they would “Alec Leamas,” the doomed protagonist played by Richard Burton half a century ago.

cordially,