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Karla's Choice is a novel by Nick Harkaway published by Viking Press on 24 October 2024. Karla's Choice is the first George Smiley continuation novel published after John le Carré's 2020 death. The novel is set in the time period between The Spy Who Came in from the Cold and Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy.
 | |
| Author | Nick Harkaway |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Series | George Smiley |
| Genre | Spy novel |
| Publisher | Viking Press (UK) |
Publication date | 2024 |
| Publication place | United Kingdom |
| Media type | Print (Hardback) |
| Pages | 320 |
| ISBN | 978-0241714904 First edition hardback |
Nick Harkaway is the pen name of Nicholas Cornwell, the son of David Cornwell who wrote the original Smiley novels under the John le Carré pen name. While the cover identifies Harkaway as the author it also describes the book as "a John le Carré novel".
Development
editIn 2023, Penguin Random House announced [1] that their imprint, Viking Press, would be publishing a novel (at the time untitled) written by Cornwell's son and set in the world of George Smiley.[2][3] Both Harkaway and le Carré were to be credited on the cover of the new work.[4]
Harkaway said in newspaper interviews that his father had wanted his legacy to be continued, and that he had undertaken the novel on that basis despite initial misgivings.[5][6][7]
Characters
edit- George Smiley - a career intelligence officer with "The Circus", the British overseas intelligence agency. He is a central character in the novels Call for the Dead, A Murder of Quality, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, The Honourable Schoolboy and Smiley's People.
- Karla - codename of a Soviet Intelligence officer, he is the head of the Thirteenth Directorate of Moscow Centre, le Carré's fictional version of the KGB, and the nemesis of Smiley. Karla is the central antagonist in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, The Honourable Schoolboy, and Smiley's People.
- Control - head of "The Circus".
- Connie Sachs - works in the research department at "The Circus".[8]
- Ferencz Róka - a former Soviet agent, working as a literary agent in London under the pseudonym László Bánáti.[9][8]
- Leo - Ferencz Róka's son by Iren, a Hungarian poet.[9]
- Szusanna Gero - assistant to László Bánáti, recruited as an agent by Smiley.[9][8]
Reception
editThe Guardian reviewer, Steven Poole says the novel "...expertly evokes the atmosphere of the originals."[10] In a five star review in The Telegraph, Jake Kerridge says "Harkaway’s new recreation of the Smiley milieu, is note-perfect."[8]
References
edit- ^ "New George Smiley novel from John le Carré's son Nick Harkaway". penguin.co.uk. 10 November 2023. Retrieved 15 October 2024.
- ^ Simpson, Craig (10 November 2023). "John le Carré's son to write new George Smiley novel". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 15 October 2024.
- ^ O'Keeffe, Alice (26 July 2024). "George Smiley rides again as Nick Harkaway returns to the world created by his father John le Carré". The Bookseller. thebookseller.com. Retrieved 17 October 2024.
- ^ Knight, Lucy (10 November 2023). "John le Carré's son to write new George Smiley novel". The Guardian. theguardian.com. Retrieved 15 October 2024.
- ^ Sanderson, David (6 October 2024). "John le Carré's last wish was for me to finish his work, says son". www.thetimes.com. Archived from the original on 7 October 2024. Retrieved 17 October 2024.
- ^ Clark, Alex (19 October 2024). "'There was eye-watering fear': John le Carré's son on writing a new George Smiley novel". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 19 October 2024. Retrieved 19 October 2024.
- ^ Brown, Mick (20 October 2024). "John le Carré's son: 'People told him secrets they'd told no-one'". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 20 October 2024. Retrieved 21 October 2024.
- ^ a b c d Kerridge, Jake (20 October 2024). "Is this new 'le Carré' novel even better than the master himself?". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 20 October 2024. Retrieved 21 October 2024.
- ^ a b c Sexton, David (16 October 2024). "The resurrection of John le Carré". New Statesman. Archived from the original on 16 October 2024. Retrieved 17 October 2024.
- ^ Poole, Steven (24 October 2024). "Karla's Choice by Nick Harkaway review – this continuation of le Carré is a treat". The Guardian. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
External links
edit- Karla's Choice
- Extract from the novel published in The Guardian (Archived 19 October 2024 at archive.today)
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