Any John Le Carre' Fans here? Just finished reading Silverview..
Anyone else read this last book published posthumously?
It won't be included on the list of his all time greatest, but it was a pleasure (for me) to read. I was delighted to discover yet one more gem he authored. When I read the Afterword by his youngest son Nick Cornwell, I wept with joy and little bit of sorrow but was mostly delighted, no thrilled, Nick's description of his own experience reading his father's works over the span of his life was exactly as my experience. Most particularly with regard to Tinker Taylor Soldier Spy. The audio format narrated by Michael Jayston, of Tinker Taylor is one (of a number of his) I have listened to so many times, I tend to quote lines with mimicry, word for word in cadence and emphasis of particular expressions.
In the film I tend to do the same on cue, cadence, timing, tone. Knowing every scene, is never boring or tiring when i'm in need of a story well written story where the bad guys finally get exposed and the good guys win out.
The rotten apples, Karla's Russian mole (Taylor) at the tippity top of the Circus and must be identified. who only George Smiley is able to uncover and expose.
In this Afterword, Nick Cornwell describes his own listening with the same degree of enjoyment. I felt like I lost an old, life long friend when he passed last year. It was good to read Nick's accounting of his passing and agreement to find an unfinished work and get it published among other things.
In Nick's accounting of a conversation with his father some years ago, David Cornwell (John Le Carre) asks a favor of Nick a commitment, if he should die with a story uncompleted on his desk, would he finish it. Nick promised he would. And will he "carry the flame"? Nick said of course.
Nick Cornwell writes by the name of Nick Harkaway. I'm going to seek out his titles. Have no idea what his writing is like, except for this Afterword which was delightful.
I post this here in the lounge, hoping to find other Le Carre fans who have already read or might be interested in reading Silverview.
= new reply since forum marked as read
transported to a place where the words on the page pop into life when narrated. I'm totally hooked and riveted. There are those moments when I have trouble understanding the pronunciations of certain words and phrasings, just do a play back.
great chronological listing. good reference as reminders to re-read.
thanks!
All this talk, I had to go back and watch it - so I thought I'd share. Watching it this time, there's just a little recognition from Bill Haydon as he sees Jim Prideaux with the rifle...like he knows Jim is there to put him out of his misery and he's giving permission. Damn these guys are good.
You want to see a 180...watch Gary Oldman in Slow Horses on AppleTV. He's a MI-5 guy very different from MI-6's George Smiley, that's for sure.
JP the "nod" to make that shot, or if he really sees him at all. Like it looks like his eyes make contact but then when the shot is fired, Bill acts surprised and stunned. But maybe that's what happens when you take shot in between your eyes and directly into your brain.
That tear from JP. almost can't see it. but it's there.
So are we to conclude there had bee pre-arranged agreement between the two? I don't think so. Hayden couldn't wait to get transported to Moscow.
I'll have to go back and re-read TTSS just for that last bit.
