The Karla Trilogy – Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy; The Honourable Schoolboy; Smiley’s People -
John le Carré
1974 - Hodder and Stoughton, London - First Editions
A finely bound first edition set of John le Carre’s acclaimed espionage trilogy – Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, The Honourable Schoolboy and Smiley’s People – featuring legendary master spy George Smiley pitted against his elusive Cold War rival, Karla.
As a secret service agent, Le Carre moved from MI5 to MI6, and was in Berlin when the wall was erected. His experiences inspired him to write a novel which became 'Call For The Dead'; 'When I first began writing, Ian Fleming was riding high and the picture of the spy was that of a character who could have affairs with women, drive a fast car, who used gadgetry and gimmickry to escape.' Le Carre's aim was to portray the intelligence world from a new view and he has earned a reputation for gritty, realistic, suspenseful spy novels based on a wide knowledge of international espionage or simply human behaviour. His famous recurring character, George Smiley, is an ageing, diffident, shadow-like member of the British foreign service, and the antithesis of James Bond; this trilogy of Smiley books is the author's masterwork, a thrilling elegy for post-imperial Britain. 'Tinker Tailor...' was the basis for the Oscar-nominated 2011 film starring Gary Oldman. John le Carré is the nom de plume of David John Moore Cornwell (1931-2020), born in Poole, Dorset. He was a member of the British Foreign Service from 1959 to 1964, serving first as Second Secretary in the British Embassy in Bonn and subsequently as Political Consul in Hamburg.
References: Penguin Books, web. John le Carre, web.
Three large octavo volumes (binding size 22.1x14.2cm), pp. [2] 349 [1][2]; [2] viii [6] 15-532 [2]; [2] 327 [1][2]. Bound in three-quarter red morocco over matching cloth, with raised bands and triple black morocco title labels lettered in gilt, top edges gilt, and with the cloth spine for each volume bound in at rear. Condition: Fine in fine bindings. Ref: 112591 Price: HK$ 22,000
As a secret service agent, Le Carre moved from MI5 to MI6, and was in Berlin when the wall was erected. His experiences inspired him to write a novel which became 'Call For The Dead'; 'When I first began writing, Ian Fleming was riding high and the picture of the spy was that of a character who could have affairs with women, drive a fast car, who used gadgetry and gimmickry to escape.' Le Carre's aim was to portray the intelligence world from a new view and he has earned a reputation for gritty, realistic, suspenseful spy novels based on a wide knowledge of international espionage or simply human behaviour. His famous recurring character, George Smiley, is an ageing, diffident, shadow-like member of the British foreign service, and the antithesis of James Bond; this trilogy of Smiley books is the author's masterwork, a thrilling elegy for post-imperial Britain. 'Tinker Tailor...' was the basis for the Oscar-nominated 2011 film starring Gary Oldman. John le Carré is the nom de plume of David John Moore Cornwell (1931-2020), born in Poole, Dorset. He was a member of the British Foreign Service from 1959 to 1964, serving first as Second Secretary in the British Embassy in Bonn and subsequently as Political Consul in Hamburg.
References: Penguin Books, web. John le Carre, web.
Three large octavo volumes (binding size 22.1x14.2cm), pp. [2] 349 [1][2]; [2] viii [6] 15-532 [2]; [2] 327 [1][2]. Bound in three-quarter red morocco over matching cloth, with raised bands and triple black morocco title labels lettered in gilt, top edges gilt, and with the cloth spine for each volume bound in at rear. Condition: Fine in fine bindings. Ref: 112591 Price: HK$ 22,000