I really enjoyed BBC's production of The Night Manager and I'm looking forward to The Little Drummer Girl, but I've never read any of his books.

I'm thinking about giving them a try. Is there a good place to start?
Should I just read them in the order they were published?
Does he have ongoing character development like Clancy's Jack Ryan books or does each book stand completely on it's own?

I also loved the Night Manager season and just have started my first Le Carre book (The Spy who came in from the cold.) I have read that they dont require any special order.

The only Le Carre book I've read is the Honourable Schoolboy, and so I may not be able to fully answer your question with the same perspective as if I had read other books in his series.

The Honourable Schoolboy picks up sometime later than when George Smiley encountered the Soviet mole, or the back story with his wife. However, while I was missing some of the subtext of previous events, there were enough past references for me to understand at least that they occurred, and for me to appreciate the story for what it was.

Le Carre was exceedingly descriptive in the Honourable Schoolboy, almost excruciatingly so, so be prepared for long descriptive passages and plodding story lines, often delving into minutiae, often not readily apparent to the reader is why this occurs until later in the story.

There are a couple of his lengthy descriptive passages in the book that I'll always remember with some enjoyment, including his description of an Italian town's coastline view and also the flight of a DC-3. But many of his lengthy descriptions do nothing but slow the story down and fill pages.

IF you have the patience to get through the lengthy descriptions, slow moving plot, tiny details, and infrequent action, you may be properly equipped to enjoy his stories.

I've seen both Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy and the Night Manager and greatly enjoyed both, although I suspect that TTSS probably more closely follows the Le Carre story style.

Let us know what you decide to read and what you think of it.

I have read most of them and no, you don't have to read them in order. Smiley's backstory is important, but you will pick up bits and pieces in each book. TTSS is the best by far, IMHO.

It has been some time since I've read his novels but I'd suggest, "The Spy Who Came in from the Cold." The old black and white movie with Richard Burton was good too.

Like many British novelist they are a little dry compared to American writers.

Start with the Spy Who....., then work in order through "Smiley's People". After that, you can pretty much read them as you find them.

quote:

Originally posted by Stray Round:
...Like many British novelist they are a little dry...

And yet, this makes le Carre so much more believable. Both he and Ian Fleming served in British Intelligence, but of the two, who writes a better story? Le Carre, by far!

 
I have not read all of his books, but an early one (the 3rd, 1963), The Spy Who Came In From The Cold, was my favorite and is a good starting point.

Let’s just say it’s not The Old Man and the Sea. His descriptive narrative can run so far as to you will forget what he’s describing. Good reads but you may occasionally go back a page or 2 to remembering the train of thought.

I think "The Spy Who Came In From The Cold" is very good. It isn't as long as some others, but has the elements of any LeCarre novel. Excellent.

The Smiley trilogy is also excellent, but is a big bite.

"The Little Drummer Girl" is also good, and has a bit more action and less of the minute detail and slow burn to a conclusion than some of the Cold War novels.

I've read most of them - maybe all of them. They are generally good, but repay your close attention.

John Le Carre Books In Order

https://www.bookseriesinorder.com/john-le-carre/

When you finish with Le Carre, read Len Deighton's three Bernard Sampson trilogies.

quote:

Originally posted by jhe888:
They are generally good, but repay your close attention.

That is an understatement.

I forgot about "A Perfect Spy." I liked that one very much.