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The Complete George Smiley Radio Dramas: BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramatization Audio CD – Unabridged, 2 June 2016
by
John Le Carre
(Author)
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Product details
- Publisher : BBC Audio, A Division Of Random House; Unabridged edition (2 June 2016)
- Language : English
- ISBN-10 : 1785293184
- ISBN-13 : 978-1785293184
- Dimensions : 13.97 x 3.56 x 13.97 cm
-
Best Sellers Rank:
235,273 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- 4,389 in Political Thrillers (Books)
- 5,421 in Espionage Thrillers (Books)
- 16,256 in Contemporary Literature & Fiction
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Product description
Review
A radio triumph...Simon Russell Beale's pitch-perfect master spy ― The Financial Times
About the Author
John le Carré was born in 1931. For six decades, he wrote novels that came to define our age. The son of a confidence trickster, he spent his childhood between boarding school and the London underworld. At sixteen he found refuge at the university of Bern, then later at Oxford. A spell of teaching at Eton led him to a short career in British Intelligence (MI5&6). He published his debut novel, Call for the Dead, in 1961 while still a secret servant. His third novel, The Spy Who Came in from the Cold, secured him a worldwide reputation, which was consolidated by the acclaim for his trilogy Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, The Honourable Schoolboy and Smiley's People. At the end of the Cold War, le Carré widened his scope to explore an international landscape including the arms trade and the War on Terror. His memoir, The Pigeon Tunnel, was published in 2016 and the last George Smiley novel, A Legacy of Spies, appeared in 2017. He died on 12 December 2020.
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Customer reviews
4.7 out of 5 stars
4.7 out of 5
90 global ratings
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Top reviews from Australia
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Reviewed in Australia on 8 April 2019
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Best dramatisation of John Le Carre’s classics. High quality recordings and a pleasure to listen to...
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Reviewed in Australia on 3 December 2020
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Great set of BBC radio plays on CD.
Top reviews from other countries

Worcester Woman
5.0 out of 5 stars
Don't hesitate - buy!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 16 April 2017Verified Purchase
This was an absolute treat from beginning to end. Like many people commenting on these audio versions, I had watched and loved the BBC version from the seventies, with Alec Guinness as Smiley. For me, Alec Guinness simply was Smiley and it was hard to fathom how any one else could take on that role.
However, once you accept you're not going to hear Alec Guiness, Michael Jayston, Hywel Bennett and the inimitable Beryl Reid, this series simply flies. In fact, I'd go so far as to say get over the fact it's not the 1979 cast, for Simon Russell Beale is a joy and a delight as Smiley and along the way, there are some stand-out peformances. Hugh Bonneville is a superb Gerry Westerby and the way in which Anne's presence is brought to bear over George through the excellent Anna Chancellor is simultaneously subtle and heart-aching. It's achieved in a way which reminds you just how wonderful radio drama, at its very best (as this is) can be.
Visually, nothing can replace the tv series, which so perfectly captured the misery, the meanness, the squalidness of it all and the utterly drab nature of Britain in the late 70s but this audio series is, in its own way, just as good. I have loved listening to the different books on long car journeys, it's like being re-united with old friends and I would recommend these wholeheartedly even though at £50 they are a bit of a luxury.
However, once you accept you're not going to hear Alec Guiness, Michael Jayston, Hywel Bennett and the inimitable Beryl Reid, this series simply flies. In fact, I'd go so far as to say get over the fact it's not the 1979 cast, for Simon Russell Beale is a joy and a delight as Smiley and along the way, there are some stand-out peformances. Hugh Bonneville is a superb Gerry Westerby and the way in which Anne's presence is brought to bear over George through the excellent Anna Chancellor is simultaneously subtle and heart-aching. It's achieved in a way which reminds you just how wonderful radio drama, at its very best (as this is) can be.
Visually, nothing can replace the tv series, which so perfectly captured the misery, the meanness, the squalidness of it all and the utterly drab nature of Britain in the late 70s but this audio series is, in its own way, just as good. I have loved listening to the different books on long car journeys, it's like being re-united with old friends and I would recommend these wholeheartedly even though at £50 they are a bit of a luxury.
30 people found this helpful
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Doc Culbard
5.0 out of 5 stars
Classic espionage - brilliant realisation of leCarre's most famous character, George Smiley
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 24 March 2021Verified Purchase
This audiobook box-set of the acclaimed "Complete George Smiley Radio Dramas", authored by John leCarre, was bought as a gift for a member of this reviewer's family. In the event, some of the stories, or parts thereof, were listened to by the reviewer. So the review, as given, is more or less an amalgam of views.
In the first place it needs to be said that, arriving on time and as described by the seller, the box-set of 21 DVDs was in an appropriate plastic box. Each of the discs was placed on the top of the next one, as convenient a way as possible of containing such a collection. Being compact, the danger of damage to the DVDs was minimised, though there was the practical matter of arranging the DVDs in such a manner that the stories that were arranged on more than one disc are able to follow the appropriate previous disc of the same story.
The stories themselves were narrated by an excellent selection of story-tellers - with Simon Russell Beale as George Smiley. Other notable story-tellers included Eleanor Bron, Kenneth Cranham, Brian Cox, Ian MacDiarmid, Hugh Bonneville, and, with special mention, Margaret Stead and Anna Chancellor. With a line-up of names such as these, it would be most difficult for the series to be other than highly successful - and it is! Aiding and abetting this galaxy of star names, is the effective sound of the recordings - including sound effects as well as voice recording. The parts are read with distinction, with the readings by the story-tellers never being tired or causing fatigue in the listener. Perhaps one slight note of complaint is the fact that it is occasionally difficult to realise when a new chapter in a story has begun. However, this does not detract from the overall grading of 5*s for the package as a whole.
This box set of eight of BBC Radio 4's full-cast dramatisations of John leCarre stories, produced in 2016 and focusing on the character of George Smiley, is an astonishing collection. The set provides 19 hours of engrossing story-telling. At its current price, it represents very good value for money. Highly recommended.
In the first place it needs to be said that, arriving on time and as described by the seller, the box-set of 21 DVDs was in an appropriate plastic box. Each of the discs was placed on the top of the next one, as convenient a way as possible of containing such a collection. Being compact, the danger of damage to the DVDs was minimised, though there was the practical matter of arranging the DVDs in such a manner that the stories that were arranged on more than one disc are able to follow the appropriate previous disc of the same story.
The stories themselves were narrated by an excellent selection of story-tellers - with Simon Russell Beale as George Smiley. Other notable story-tellers included Eleanor Bron, Kenneth Cranham, Brian Cox, Ian MacDiarmid, Hugh Bonneville, and, with special mention, Margaret Stead and Anna Chancellor. With a line-up of names such as these, it would be most difficult for the series to be other than highly successful - and it is! Aiding and abetting this galaxy of star names, is the effective sound of the recordings - including sound effects as well as voice recording. The parts are read with distinction, with the readings by the story-tellers never being tired or causing fatigue in the listener. Perhaps one slight note of complaint is the fact that it is occasionally difficult to realise when a new chapter in a story has begun. However, this does not detract from the overall grading of 5*s for the package as a whole.
This box set of eight of BBC Radio 4's full-cast dramatisations of John leCarre stories, produced in 2016 and focusing on the character of George Smiley, is an astonishing collection. The set provides 19 hours of engrossing story-telling. At its current price, it represents very good value for money. Highly recommended.

Mr. Stephen Cole
5.0 out of 5 stars
Engaging and atmospheric Le Carre realisation
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 4 April 2021Verified Purchase
There is everything to like about these dramatised novels. Having been initially surprised at how these dense and intricate stories could be condensed into so short a listening space, they nevertheless provide a compelling and rewarding experience. Simon Russell-Beale as Smiley is incomparable; Alec Guinness still remains the master of the characterisation I think, but that relied also on the visuals as well as the voice, but Russell-Beale is well suited to the radio genre and the rest of the cast list contributes to this as a class act (or acts!). The stories retain their pathos as well as their cynicism and historicity. Highly recommended, and something I will keep and listen to again in future years, I think.

Business Book Worm
5.0 out of 5 stars
21 Hours of Pure Joy
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 1 September 2014Verified Purchase
This is a brilliant collection of LaCarrie's work beautifully dramatised.This box has 21 hours of brilliant drama. Simon Russell Beale is George Smiley. If you have seen Sir Alec in the TV adaptations, you might think it difficult for Simon to fill George Smiley's shoes. You would be wrong. He is a very convincing Smiley. The Smiley Collection is:
Call for the Dead
A Murder of Quality
The Spy Who Came in From the Cold
The Looking Glass War
Tinker Tailer Soldier Spy
The Honourable Schoolboy
Smiley's People
The Secret Pilgrim
I have arrived at my destination and waited in the car for an appropriate break, these drama's are so good.
Call for the Dead
A Murder of Quality
The Spy Who Came in From the Cold
The Looking Glass War
Tinker Tailer Soldier Spy
The Honourable Schoolboy
Smiley's People
The Secret Pilgrim
I have arrived at my destination and waited in the car for an appropriate break, these drama's are so good.
16 people found this helpful
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Richmonde
5.0 out of 5 stars
Patchy - good in parts
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 7 March 2016Verified Purchase
The early tales are riveting, Tinker Tailor, Smiley's People and Perfect Spy are standout. Secret Pilgrim is a dull selection of anecdotes set in the world of spies. Honourable Schoolboy is the disappointing one. Jerry Westerby seems a different character, and George Smiley just doesn't belong in Hong Kong, though the actress who plays Lizzie is very good and I love Simon Russel Beale's Smiley. Anne has moved back into Bywater Street and George observes her through the curtains of his own house - he has taken refuge in his office. It all seems very unlikely. Henry Goodman is excellent as Fiedler and Toby Esterhase in the earlier stories.
5 people found this helpful
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