
Karla's Choice
A John le Carré Novel
$24.02
- Paperback
320 pages
- Release Date
2 September 2025
Summary
It is spring in 1963 and George Smiley has left the Circus. With the wreckage of the West’s spy war with the Soviets strewn across Europe, he has eyes only on a more peaceful life. And indeed, with his marriage more secure than ever, there is a rumour in Whitehall - unconfirmed and a little scandalous - that George Smiley might almost be happy.
But Control has other plans. A Russian agent has defected in the most unusual of circumstances, and the man he was sent to kill in London is n…
Book Details
| ISBN-13: | 9781405969833 |
|---|---|
| ISBN-10: | 1405969830 |
| Author: | Nick Harkaway, John le Carré |
| Publisher: | Penguin Books Ltd |
| Imprint: | Penguin Books Ltd |
| Format: | Paperback |
| Number of Pages: | 320 |
| Release Date: | 2 September 2025 |
| Weight: | 224g |
| Dimensions: | 22mm x 128mm x 196mm |

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Critics Review
‘Is this new ‘le Carré’ novel even better than the master himself? Harkaway has done an extraordinarily good job with his father’s legacy. Karla’s Choice is note-perfect.’ – Jake Kerridge * The Telegraph *
What a treat! Karla’s Choice expertly evokes the atmosphere of the originals * Guardian *
A loving tribute as well as an excellent novel in its own right – Anthony Cummins * The Observer *
It is difficult to encapsulate what a remarkable achievement this novel is. Karla’s Choice is absolutely first rate, as both a homage to le Carré and as a work in its own right – Stuart Kelly * The Scotsman *
Karla’s Choice breathes new life into the murky world of the Circus. If you haven’t read any Smiley books, then this wouldn’t be a bad place to start – David Mills * Sunday Times *
An accomplished and welcome addition to le Carré’s oeuvre. Harkaway has drawn on his deep knowledge of his father’s work to produce a tale faithful to the originals, while subtly adding a lighter, more modern touch. * The Financial Times *
Harkaway is a fine writer and he has resurrected his father’s books brilliantly * The I *
Brilliant – every bit as suspenseful and knowing as the original, and often more humorous * The Spectator – Books of the year II *
A satisfyingly intricate tale filled with intrigue and suspense. Karla’s Choice is an accomplished homage and a captivating thriller. * Economist - Best books of 2024 *
Tense and atmospheric, meditative and moving. Fans of le Carré will have much to rejoice about – Tan Twan Eng
Nick Harkaway
Nick Harkaway
Nick Harkaway is the acclaimed author of Gnomon, The Gone-Away World, Angelmaker, Tigerman, Titanium Noir, and Karla’s Choice. He is the son of John le Carré and possesses a unique insight into his father’s work. The Guardian writes of Harkaway that “his great gift as a novelist is to merge the pace, wit and clarity of the best ‘popular’ literature with the ambition, complexity and irony of the so-called ‘literary novel’ - a rare combination which le Carré himself also achieved.” He lives in London with his wife and two children.
John le Carré
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. His posthumous novel, Silverview, was published in 2021.
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