10 Essential John Le Carré Books

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John Le Carré was a British-Irish author best known for his best-selling, award-winning espionage novels, many of which became feature films, including Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy and A Most Wanted Man.

Born David John Moore Cornwell, he wrote 25 novels under his famed pen name in a career that spanned six decades.

With such an impressive bibliography, you may be wondering where to start. That’s why we’ve curated a list of 10 essential Le Carré novels to help you get acquainted with his thrilling spy novels.

Essential John Le Carré Books

Below are 10 John Le Carré books that offer a comprehensive introduction to his work.

1. The Spy Who Came in from the Cold (1963)

Le Carré’s third novel was also his first international breakout. It follows Alec Leamas, who is sent to East Berlin to exact revenge against East German sentries.

To do so, he must assume the guise of an embittered ex-agent and use himself as the bait to trap Mundt, the deputy director of the East German Intelligence Service.

And in the background is George Smiley, ready to make sure the game plays out just as Control wants.

2. A Perfect Spy (1986)

Magnus Pym is a devoted family man, a reliable colleague, a loyal friend—and oh yes, he’s also the perfect spy.

But following the death of his estranged father, Magnus vanishes. This sets not only the British Secret Service on his trail, but also a mysterious mustachioed man who’s interested in Magnus’ whereabouts.

According to Le Carré, some parts of the novel were inspired by his own life and his real conman father.  

3. Silverview (2021)

Just a few months after trading his high-flying city job for a quiet life as a bookseller by the English seaside, Julian Lawndsley is visited by a Polish émigré who seems to know a lot about Julian’s family and is a bit too interested in his new business.

Then, a British spy chief arrives in town to investigate warnings of a dangerous leak, turning Julian’s peaceful retirement upside-down.

This was Le Carré’s final novel, published posthumously in 2021.

4. Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (1974)

In the fifth George Smiley book, the man Smiley knew as “Control” is dead, and the young Turks who forced him out now run MI6, or as Smiley calls it, the “Circus.”

But Smiley isn’t ready to retire, and when a would-be defector comes forward with word that a Soviet mole has penetrated the highest level of British Intelligence, he must rely on his wits to catch the traitor.
 
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy was adapted into an Oscar-nominated feature film starring Gary Oldman, Colin Firth, and Tom Hardy.

5. The Honourable Schoolboy (1977)

Having eliminated the MI6 mole, Smiley must now repair the damage and uncover what the Moscow Centre is trying to hide.

The trail leads him to Hong Kong, where Smiley enlists the help of Gerald Westerby, a part-time operative posing as a philandering journalist.

In this second installment to the Karla Trilogy, the battle between Smiley and his Russian adversary takes on an even more dangerous dimension.

6. The Constant Gardener (2001)

Following the end of the Cold War, with the threat of Russian agents significantly reduced, John le Carré turned to the evils of the West—including dodgy multinational corporations, gunrunners, and human traffickers—as inspiration for his new antagonists.

In The Constant Gardener, he takes aim at Big Pharma’s influence in Africa, as a British diplomat posted to Kenya finds his wife brutally murdered. Justin, the protagonist, soon discovers that the official investigation is a coverup, launching him into the middle of an international conspiracy.

7. The Tailor of Panama (1996)

Harry Pendel is a British ex-pat and exclusive tailor to Panama’s most powerful men. Unbeknownst to his family, he’s also an informant to British Intelligence, as well as a former convict.

After agreeing to report back on his elite clients, Harry soon discovers that he’s not working for MI6, but a group of right-wing press lords and arms dealers who want to destabilize Panama for their own benefit, sending Harry into a deadly maze of politics and espionage.

8. The Little Drummer Girl (1983)

Charlie Ross is a left-wing actress on vacation in Mykonos when she meets a handsome stranger, who lures her away from her friends.

But Charlie soon discovers that Joseph is an Israeli intelligence officer, and he wants her to infiltrate a Palestinian cell that’s behind a deadly bombing campaign in Europe.

9. Our Kind of Traitor (2010)

Perry Makepiece and his girlfriend, Gail, are on vacation in Antigua when they meet a Russian oligarch, Dima, who claims to be the “world’s number one money launderer.”

Dima wants Perry and Gail to help him contact British intelligence. They reluctantly agree, but soon find themselves sucked into a sleazy and dangerous underworld.

10. A Most Wanted Man (2008)

Issa, a young Chechen, is smuggled into Hamburg. He may or may not be a terrorist. Annabel, a civil rights lawyer, and Tommy Brue, an aging British banker, both try to save Issa from deportation.

While their true motives remain unclear, the rival spies of three nations are also drawn to this already complicated triangle.

What Order Should You Read John Le Carré Books?

The nine George Smiley books do not need to be read in order. Each can be read as a standalone. In fact, many Le Carré scholars say it’s better to skip around anyway, since there are some experimental installments and lackluster sequels.

But if you do wish to read the books in order, here’ s the sequence you should follow:

The George Smiley Novels

Standalone Novels in Order

Thrilling Tales of Espionage

John Le Carré wrote some of the best espionage novels of all time, and created the anti-James Bond in his beloved character of George Smiley.

For more thrilling spy stories, check out our list of the best spy novels, from The Bourne Identity to Goldfinger.

Do you have a favorite John Le Carré novel? Share it with us in the comments below!

 

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