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Every book Nick Harkaway recommended on podcasts
Nick Harkaway's book recommendations and discussions on literary podcasts reveal a deep engagement with espionage fiction, particularly the work of John le Carré. As an author stepping into the le Carré universe, Harkaway explored the intricacies of character continuity, tradecraft, and plotting through several prominent spy novels. During his appearance on The Book Review, he analyzed 'Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy' by John le Carré, pointing to it as a foundational account of George Smiley's history. He highlighted a specific moment where Smiley picks up a gun and then puts it away to illustrate the nuanced tradecraft and psychological restraint of the character. Harkaway also discussed John le Carré's later installment 'A legacy of spies', noting how writing it caused the author to look back with a sense of horror at Smiley's earlier involvement in the operation featured in 'The Spy Who Came In from the Cold'. Furthermore, Harkaway touched upon the continuity challenges present in 'A legacy of spies' and explained why he chose to skip 'The Secret Pilgrim' during his research rereading, noting that while those books offered beautiful vignettes of Smiley's life, he was focused on specific narrative arcs. Through these discussions, Harkaway demonstrated a profound analytical appreciation for the architecture of espionage thrillers and the enduring legacy of one of the genre's greatest masterworks.
Books recommended by Nick Harkaway
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A legacy of spies
Discussed“and then much later looking back when he wrote Legacy of spies which came out I think in 2017 he was suddenly horrified by Smiley's involvement in in the operation in home from the cold”
Where to get it
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The Secret Pilgrim
Discussed“I didn't actually go on to secret Pilgrim I skipped that because those are beautiful vignettes of Smiley's life”
Where to get it
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Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy is a classic espionage novel by John le Carré that follows the intricate investigations of intelligence officer George Smiley.
Discussed“although we have in Tinker Taylor Soldier Spy we have a kind of account of Smiley's history”
Where to get it
Books Nick Harkaway wrote
Appearances
| Episode | Podcast | Date | Books |
|---|---|---|---|
| What It's Like to Write a New John le Carré Novel | The Book Review | 2024-11-08 | 5 |
Other mentions (2: passing, ad reads, own books)
“I actually read the early ones I read call for the dead a murder of quality and the spark came from the cold”
“I actually read the early ones I read call for the dead a murder of quality and the spark came from the cold”