The Honourable SchoolboyThe Honourable Schoolboy
Score Classic
What it's about
After the events of Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy, George Smiley tries to bring the Circus, British intelligence, back from the brink and undo the damage done by the mole Bill Haydon, while pursuing his Soviet nemesis, Karla.
Why it's worth reading
It was one of the ten best-selling books of 1977. It's the middle of John le Carré's Karla trilogy.
You'll love it if you liked
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy
Smiley's People
The Spy Who Came in From the ColdGood to know
Read Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy first. It's long and slow-burning.
By the numbers
- Readers41 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller46 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
- #332 of the 555 mysteries and thrillers we rank
- #549 of the 762 classics we rank
- #1915 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Gripping, Adventurous
More by John le Carré
The Spy Who Came in From the ColdSmiley's PeopleTinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy
A Perfect SpyIf you like this, read next
The Godfather
The Pillars of the Earth
In Cold Blood
The Day of the Jackal
Rebecca
Crime and PunishmentExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is The Honourable Schoolboy worth reading?
Yes. It was one of the ten best-selling books of 1977. It ranks #1,915 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 64.7 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The Honourable Schoolboy about?
After the events of Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy, George Smiley tries to bring the Circus, British intelligence, back from the brink and undo the damage done by the mole Bill Haydon, while pursuing his Soviet nemesis, Karla.
How long does it take to read The Honourable Schoolboy?
About 15 hours (611 pages), or about 4 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after The Honourable Schoolboy?
If you liked it, try Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy by John le Carré, Smiley's People by John le Carré or The Spy Who Came in From the Cold by John le Carré.