Questions About The Spy Who Came In from the Cold (George Smiley, #3)

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Answered Questions (15)

Do I need to read the other 2 proceeding books first?

Stephen Sanders You don't have to. The events of his first book, Call for the Dead, are frequently referenced in the Spy Who Came in from the Cold, but are summarized…moreYou don't have to. The events of his first book, Call for the Dead, are frequently referenced in the Spy Who Came in from the Cold, but are summarized so you don't need to have read it. However, it's a solid mystery and a quick read so there's no reason not to read it first. It's also interesting to see how Le Carre's style evolved between the two books.

Le Carre's second novel, A Murder of Quality, on the other hand, is a mediocre mystery novel with a plot that has no relation to this book. Definitely skip it. (less)

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Very good story except....did Communists really talk like that? Every word out of a Communist's mouth in this story was completely ridiculous. If people back then actually believed that drivel, then I have even less respect for communists than I did before.

Timothy Fiction is always an illusion whose success is based on how real it feels. Le Carre was not a communist and did not attend their meetings, and likely …moreFiction is always an illusion whose success is based on how real it feels. Le Carre was not a communist and did not attend their meetings, and likely didn't hang out with them often. Obviously he had never interacted personally with the senior leadership of East Germany.

Not that you should necessarily have respect for communists, but being convinced you should have little respect for them while having no knowledge of what they actually believe in the real world seems a bit presumptuous.

You might find this interview by le Carre interesting,

http://www.theguardian.com/books/2013...(less)

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This question contains spoilers... (view spoiler)

Taylor Read Le Carre's newest novel "Legacy of Spies" for this answer…moreRead Le Carre's newest novel "Legacy of Spies" for this answer(less)

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This novel is so praised and respected, and yet, I can't finish it. I started, I guess, like a year ago and couldn't even get to the middle. I didn't even see anything related to a thriller, or a spy novel, or a crime book, or even an entertaining book. Do things get better or the book is this passive the entire time?

Jack Medley I first started this book in 1965 and couldn’t finish it. Tried again a few years later and have now read it at least ten times. Once read I started m…moreI first started this book in 1965 and couldn’t finish it. Tried again a few years later and have now read it at least ten times. Once read I started my journey through all of Le Carre’s books and have enjoyed every one of them more than once.(less)

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Can I pick this book up without having read the first two books in the George Smiley series?

Matt Lehrer 100% yes. The first two are barely related and are nowhere near as good.

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