Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy audiobook by John Le Carre. Read by Michael Jayston. Abridged

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy audiobook by John Le Carré. Read by Michael Jayston. Abridged
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy - The Cold War is on and there is a Russian mole in the British Secret Intelligence Service. The British operatives and government plans are at great risk. It’s up to a forcibly retired agent, George Smiley, to dig out the mole. The book was and is highly acclaimed with 4.4/5 rating on Amazon. "Smiley is thus an anti-James Bond, an unheroic …secret agent who looks like a shy and miserable clerk in an old London bank. In fact, of course, Smiley is the finest secret agent in the world; his pathetic demeanor conceals a brilliant mind and stout heart.” NYT Review 1974.
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy was made into a highly acclaimed miniseries (8.5/10 IMDB) starring Alec Guinness. The miniseries also features the reader of this audiobook, Michael Jayston, who portrays Peter Guillam. Thirty-two years after the miniseries, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy was released as a movie starring Gary Oldman as George Smiley. Oldman’s excellent performance was nominated for an Oscar. This time, Benedict Cumberbatch played the role of Peter Guillam. If any of you has seen both, it would be interesting to have a comparison review of the productions and the Guillam performances. Enjoy!
John Le Carré (1931-2020) is a pseudonym for British author David Cornwell who later took Irish citizenship in protest of Brexit. He also had some harsh yet reasonably accurate criticism of the US invasion of Iraq and of Putin (It’s all on Wikipedia). His vast knowledge of the spy world came from working in the British Security Service (Mi5) and the Secret Intelligence Service (Mi6). Mr. Le Carré is considered one of the worlds finest spy novelist. His numerous books have won for him numerous awards including The British Crime Writers Assn. Gold Dagger for The Spy Who Came in from the Cold. This book was also made into a film starring the legendary Richard Burton.
Quotes: “I think the greatest single enemy is the misuse of information…”
“If there is one eternal truth in politics, there is always a dozen good reasons to do nothing.”
“A desk is a dangerous place to view the world.”
(it also gives a very incomplete view)
Michael Jayston (1935 -2024 RIP) was a busy English actor of the stage, screen, and audiobook. He performed in numerous TV shows and miniseries including 1979’s Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. In Cromwell, he performed with a future James Bond, Timothy Dalton, and the future Bond villain Blofeld, played by Charles Gray. Mr. Jayston’s most notable performance is in the film Nicholas and Alexandra. He stars as Tsar Nicholas II, the incompetent Russian ruler overthrown by the Russian Revolution during WW I and subsequently executed along with his family.
Quote: “I once spanked a nun’s bottom”
From Mr. Jayston’s unofficial twitter site, @MichaelJayston. There’s a short video.

[@5bags]

RIP Michael Jayston

[@lonsworth]

Great hearing Michael Jayston..who was perfect in his role opposite Alec Guinness in the original Tinker TV masterpiece...

[@chrisst8922]

Around 11:13:00 Michael Jayston reads his own lines from the BBC's adaptation. I'm sure it must've struck him.

[@paulleverton9569]

I wonder why Jayston was replaced with Michael Byrne as Guillam in Smiley's People, 1982? Jayston's IMDB list of credits isn't particularly busy around 1982 - his only work that year was narrating Timewatch. I like Michael Byrne but Jayston is my favourite Guillam. I thought Benedict Cumberbatch was miscast in the role (2011) and I never understood why they retconned the character into a secretive homosexual. Guillam knew there were no true secrets in the Circus.

[@govansquared4759]

I watched the film and thought it really quite a cynical and cheap attempt to cash in before le carré né cornwall popped his clogs. between the duty clerk at the circus and prideaux/haydn relationship there was a strong ish undercurrent in the books and adaptations which they probably wanted in the film for demographic i.e. commercial reasons

[@johardy8512]

I adore his voice, wonderful presentation. One of my all time favourites, love Le Carre.

[@5bags]

Sir Alec Guinness and Michael Jayston were so great in the series Absolutes perfection!!

[@jamesgale2147]

He's the very best narrator of the very best spy drama.....ever, since it is based on the truth, of course not in every detail, but still in principle.

[@robertandrews5640]

THE FILM VERSION IS SUBSTANDARD GARBAGE UTTER TRASH AND A STAIN ON THE WOBDERFUL WRITING OF DAVID CORNWALL THE B B C GUINNESS VERDION TGE ORIGINAL IS SUPERB OF OUTSTANDING MERIT

[@robertandrews5640]

THANK GOODNESS SMILEYS PEOPLE HAS NOT BEEN RUINED BY THE TALENTLESS CRETINS

[@lorannamoody7011]

This one of the great books. Please take the time to listen to or read the unabridged. It’s worth the time. It’s one of the books I read every year and I pick up something new each time. It’s not just a story, it’s literature.

[@linesided]

The "unabridged" version is a collection of stories, not just this one. It's not a "long" story in the first place. Each word is efficiently and expertly crafted.

[@alanrogs3990]

So this is the whole original novel? 2hrs and 40min seem too short.

[@FF-so3su]

Michael Jayston has a wonderful voice. 👍😊

[@michaelfraser5723]

if slightly effete

[@Happyheretic2308]

​@@michaelfraser5723hardly.

[@user-pt3gi5ul2e]

I'm slowing him down because I'm midwestern US​@@michaelfraser5723

[@anthonyalfredyorke1621]

Thanks for another wonderful story, great adaptation of the best intelligence novel & so nice to have it read by Peter from the original series. PEACE AND LOVE TO EVERYONE ❤❤.

[@gracegood3661]

Very much enjoy Jayston’s narrations

[@colw2997]

Thank you! Hope it stays here!

[@RootlessNZ]

Marvellous. I've read the book, seen the mini-series andd the film. This audiobook rounds it off, a wonderful conclusion to a beguiling story of power struggle and betrayal. Thanks for uploading.

[@2msvalkyrie529]

Just the Musical to go then for the full set ?

[@RootlessNZ]

@@2msvalkyrie529 I'm waiting for the announcement which I'm sure will come any day now. Even better, an opera!

[@paulleverton9569]

@@RootlessNZ West Side Story is based on Shakespeare so stranger things have happened. This is the abridged version, the unabridged version is over ten hours longer - but well worth the 13 hours of listening to le Carre fans. It's also narrated by Michael Jayston, like most le Carre audiobooks up to around 2015. Tom Hollander and Toby Jones narrated the last two, in 2017 and 2021.

[@SophyaAgain]

Folk, do you remember who played Karla? Sir. Patric Stewart before he's become worldwide famous as Capitain Picard. Great production. Love Le Carré's novels.

[@javiergarciaflorez2103]

RECORDEMOS siempre y seguro está 🎥 película 🎞️

[@chrisst8922]

The choice of narrator is a very good one because le Carre admitted to Jayston that in the BBC's adaptation Jayston was in fact playing him.

[@zoyablake9538]

A perfect start to my day. Thank you!

[@sallyscott4892]

Super reading , love this

[@v.britton4445]

Beautiful accent, articulate and well narrated 💜

[@v.britton4445]

Jayston has a powerful subtile thoughtful look with a microexpression and a telling breath instead of a comment, priceless acting.

[@govansquared4759]

michael jayston died yesterday. he's brilliant reading this, in the bbc's tinker production, and in many other roles

[@greatbooksontape782]

I didn't know this until you mentioned it, appreciated. Thanks for the memories Mr. Jayston.

[@cateorlamoya]

Thank you.

[@renukaviswanathan454]

This is an abridged version, not the original

[@Johnconno]

'Jim Prideaux arrived at Gormenghast on a...'

[@andrewpalma5486]

thank you

[@pamhellawell5103]

Is there any way you could upload Smileys People please?

[@Teknofobe]

Very nice indeed. 👍

[@SimonaIrinaCantuniari]

This is absolutely brilliant, thank you so much! Do you also have the unabridged version of this? Or The Wind in the Willows read by Michael Jayston? (Only 2 parts are available on YT) Thank you!

[@MegaTruthseekers]

A better title would be: "Smileys People". Book 3 of the Smiley trilogy

[@skylongskylong1982]

Great. Have you got any Leslie Charteris (The Saint) on tape ?

[@paullaing5154]

The BBC series was far superior to the movie. All of the main actors in that series defined the characters they played to the point where no other actor could touch them.

[@scorcheris-empathy-nu7pc]

Poppycock! Such enthusiasm clouds our judgement when the two adaptations remain entirely complementary to each other and the novel! One cannot compare a 6 hour series with a 2 hour movie (the latter includes portrayals and performances by an amazing cast Alex and Ian would be proud for all associations!). Having studied the novel, series and movie in depth, and given how each reflect the differing periods while enticing their contemporary audiences, all three remain masterpieces. Each captures their target audiences with unique, original performances. The most recent adaptation more than rises to the challenges eluded to in your commentary - Further testament to its success.

[@soniavadnjal7553]

Yes.

[@sivaprasadvarma811]

​@@scorcheris-empathy-nu7pc😅😅😅😅😅¹¹q😅¹q¹¹q¹¹q¹😅😅😅¹😅😅😅¹q😅😅¹¹q😅😅¹¹qq¹q😅😅😅😅¹q😅¹qqq😅¹😅¹qq¹¹¹¹qqq¹¹q¹q¹😅😅😅¹qq¹qqq¹qqqq😅¹q😅¹¹😅😅😅😅¹q¹😅¹q😅😅😅😅¹😅¹q¹😅😅¹😅😅¹q¹¹😅😅¹qq😅😅😅¹¹😅😅😅😅¹qqq😅¹qq¹😅😅😅¹¹😅😅

[@sivaprasadvarma811]

​@@scorcheris-empathy-nu7pc😅😅😅😅😅😅😅¹¹😅😅¹j¹j

[@sivaprasadvarma811]

😅😅ĵ😅¹ĵ😅¹ĵ😅¹ĵ😅😅¹ĵ¹j1😅😅😅😅​@@soniavadnjal7553

[@paulleverton9569]

12 hours 48 minutes is the length of the unabridged version. And every page matters. Every sentence. Every minute of the audiobook. It's simply not possible for the intricate details of this classic to be conveyed in 2 hours 39 minutes. Nearly 80% of the unabridged (original) version would need to be disposable (redundant) in order for this version, with four fifths thrown away, to work. Obviously it doesn't work. It's like watching a version of THE GODFATHER that's been cut from 3 hours to 36 minutes. What 144 minutes would you leave out?

[@Goldgazzelle]

This isn’t about Garrick

[@adielstephenson2929]

2 hrs 39 mins? Can that really be the whole book?

[@paulleverton9569]

It's the abridged version. The unabridged version is 12 hours 48 minutes - but still has the wonderful narration of Michael Jayston.

[@richardrichard5409]

The clues in the title.

[@heidi3746]

Can you do the Tailor of panama

[@Art-jl6pt]

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="60">1:00</a>:00

[@CosmicRabbitCarma]

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="296">4:56</a>

[@timelordvictorious]

The valllyard himself

[@bobbyworrell2549]

abridged books are a crime

[@situated4]

Beware the JuJu man.

[@escapefelicity2913]

muffled

[@ravarga4631]

Tough guy peter andhis goon fawn lol. Not assets to the tale.

[@michaelfraser5723]

@Ralph Reilly depends how you see it

[@govansquared4759]

think Fawn or Vaughan (?) is Smiley's goon. at least Haydn makes it to the incarceration facility in this version harsh about Peter Guillam. jayston plays peter guillam in the acclaimed BBC adaptation. Percy Alaline is a bit of a stock glasgow/edinburgh burr

[@ravarga4631]

@@govansquared4759 peter is in charge of the goon squad, smiley is at arms distance from the goons.

[@sabradaly7151]

Sadly this great book was read too fast, almost as if Michael Jayston was being paid for brevity and speed.

[@johnniec.b4303]

It's badly speeded up - the posted RECORDING that is

[@varianreeves7213]

You can change it to 0.75% using the top right settings dial. Think it should probably be run at about 0.85% but don't know how to change to that.

[@paulleverton9569]

He may have been. This is the abridged version. The unabridged is ten hours twenty minutes longer.

[@user-pt3gi5ul2e]

​@@paulleverton9569I also wish for finer gradations of playback speed! I'm running this at 0.75, but would love to try 0.9 or 0.85 ! I slowed down a machine narrated section of a Cussler Novel on Vogue audiobooks and it helped Now I found the settings option, I may try it on Smart Mark Agee in Weekly Skews on Trae Crowder's KZbin, or if I play anything delivered by Simon Whistler.

[@williamhagen2792]

Poor sound quality

[@cavandavidson1185]

unlike many commenters I dislike jaystons smiley voice. too fruity and a bit adenoidal. makes smiley sound creepy.

[@GOFFMEISTER]

There's no pleasing you. It's a very good take .

[@julietsengupta3573]

There is a slight creepiness..he is a flawed character..