Smiley's PeopleSmiley's People
Score Classic
What it's about
An old Soviet émigré general who once worked for British intelligence is shot dead on Hampstead Heath, and George Smiley is called out of retirement to tidy the matter away quietly. Instead he follows the general's last trail, through a woman in Paris and a photograph from Hamburg, toward the one weakness of Karla, the Soviet spymaster who has been his enemy for decades.
Why it's worth reading
It's the final book of le Carré's Karla trilogy and was a #1 New York Times bestseller. It's the most satisfying of the three, as Smiley finally gets his chance at Karla and has to decide what winning is worth.
You'll love it if you liked
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy
The Spy and the Traitor: The Greatest Espionage Story of the Cold War
The GodfatherGood to know
It works on its own, but it's richer after Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. The 1982 BBC adaptation with Alec Guinness is excellent.
By the numbers
- Readers91 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller47 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #44 of the 555 mysteries and thrillers we rank
- #190 of the 762 classics we rank
- #592 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Gripping, Dark
More by John le Carré
The Spy Who Came in From the ColdTinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy
A Perfect Spy
The Honourable SchoolboyIf you like this, read next
The Day of the Jackal
Gone Girl
Remarkably Bright Creatures
2666
Deliverance
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Quick answers
Is Smiley's People worth reading?
Yes. It's the final book of le Carré's Karla trilogy and was a #1 New York Times bestseller. It ranks #592 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 77.2 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Smiley's People about?
An old Soviet émigré general who once worked for British intelligence is shot dead on Hampstead Heath, and George Smiley is called out of retirement to tidy the matter away quietly. Instead he follows the general's last trail, through a woman in Paris and a photograph from Hamburg, toward the one weakness of Karla, the Soviet spymaster who has been his enemy for decades.
How long does it take to read Smiley's People?
About 10 hours (395 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Smiley's People?
If you liked it, try Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy by John le Carré, The Spy and the Traitor: The Greatest Espionage Story of the Cold War by Ben Macintyre or The Godfather by Mario Puzo.