Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy - Radio Adaptation - Starring Bernard Hepton as George Smiley - Full

George Smiley: Bernard Hepton
Percy Alleline: James Grout
Toby Esterhase: Charles Kay
Roy Bland: William Simons
Bill Haydon: Edward de Souza
Control: Alan MacNaughtan
Lady Anne Smiley: Sarah Lawson
Jim Prideaux: Denis Lill
Sam Collins: Terrence Hardiman
Bryant: Michael Tudor Barnes
Foreign Office clerk: Peter Craze
Meakin: Laurence Payne
Secretary: Zelah Clarke
Oliver Lacon: John Quayle
Adapter: Rene Basilico
Music By: Max Harris
Producer: John Fawcett Wilson

[@CDMVIDZ]

I've consumed Tinker, Tailor in every one of its many formats over the past 35 years (the novel, the Beeb series, the audiobook, the recent film), but this adaptation's streamlined linear narrative and little extra bits of exposition to help the OAPs follow along is the single best distillation of the novel's Byzantine plot I've ever heard. Outstanding, thank you so much for posting it!

[@roysmith8602]

35 years , every format..will give it a shot then :) there's a possibility you might be better informed them me

[@clovelly1946]

Me too,agree with you.after so many views and listenings,I still enjoy every word.Its Turkey great writing.

[@CaroleRogersCSL]

After seeing the comments I am more than looking forward to listening. Having read the book, seen the series and, recently watched the film with Gary Oldman as Smiley (superb, by the way) I'll be interested to hear how it's done.

[@drtonyhaworth6287]

Hi do you know of any other film versions of any smiley stories ?? Or any spy films good ones and I’ve watched and listened to all the different versions of this and is there anything for smileys people ?? Please advice if you know ??

[@dancontrino1911]

Same here! I also think the casting is perfect.

[@clarehsueh7683]

Mr. Hepton sounded almost exactly like Alec Guinness as Smiley in the TV series. Amazingly great imitation!

[@craigbryant3191]

I like Hepton's Smiley. Always have, since I picked this up on cassette tape in the 90s. But his Toby Esterhase? PERFECTION.

[@vze1lxls]

P

[@darrylwiggins1156]

Could not have said it better.

[@tourismtiger]

Totally agree. Perfect, actually....

[@jacquelinestack9086]

@@vze1lxls q

[@alidabaxter5849]

I am so grateful to be able to listen to this version, which I did not know. Like so many others I am mad about Bernard Hepton, and will never forget him dancing around Thun in Switzerland in 'Smileys People' with the most superb accent, using his team to entrap a Russian for Smiley. Wonderful actor and I have watched the BBC TV series time after time.

[@philippankhurst6680]

Is there anyone who has only seen TTTS and People just once ? The absolute pinnacle of TV drama, in my opinion...

[@rorybone100]

It IS delicious.

[@morganrees6807]

It's quite weird hearing Bernard Hepton as Smiley - particularly when he is talking to Esterhase. The BBC TV serial actors still are the yardstick for Le Carre's characters.

[@TomHyland-mk4ki]

Bernard Hepton, such a talent. In fact, great listening to all of the actors. I never tire of this version. Thank you all round and also for posting.

[@Th0ughtf0rce]

I listen to it again and again on long drives. Listening to Bernard, my mind conjure up a more sly and cynical Smiley than Alec Guinness' rendition.

[@morrismole1300]

Wow, I‘d never heard this version before, such fun hearing Bernard Hepton as Smiley in conversation with Toby Esterhazy whom he plays in the TV version. Lovely production. Thank you.

[@mikewellwood1412]

Same here, and I thought I'd heard pretty much all there was, le Carre-related, on the BBC. This was a great version. Partly because of Hepton - such a class act - and partly because it told the story logically, more or less in chronological order, and not in flashback mode (or much less so), than in the original novel (or in the famous TV version). Many thanks to Nerdsworth for uploading it.

[@rpm1796]

Binga Loved Hep...Secret army...

[@davehappablap5549]

@@mikewellwood1412 5: e__.+=

[@ajiusasikander1701]

RIP, John le Carré. Legend.

[@dancontrino1911]

You can absolutely hear how Gary Oldman’s Smiley’s voice and cadence was inspired by Bernard Hepton’s. Hepton was wonderful.

[@karlmeyer9473]

Oldman was crap

[@dermotriordan4046]

The film version is an abomination

[@donepearce]

Sorry but the Oldman movie was nonsense. Gunness's Smiley in the BBC miniseries was great. And moving Hepton over to Toby Esterhase was inspired.

[@karpizan]

@@doublewhopper67 Yeah. Completely unnecessary

[@howard1beale]

The film was not good. The TV series was much better. This is better than the film even though its changed a lot from the book

[@simonwhite8474]

Bernard Hepton had such a deft touch at everything he did....Colditz, I Clavdivs, BBC TV Le Carre, Secret Army. Also delighted to hear the excellent and also late James Grout as Percy. Thanks for posting this.

[@roddyteague6246]

Versatile as well. Remember him in The Squirrels?!

[@annquinn6780]

Brilliant in Bleak House .

[@roddyteague6246]

@@annquinn6780 Morning Ann. Yes he was. You helped me recall him in Get Carter-soon to be 50 years old!

[@davpal3]

Absolutely brilliant and you know what? I never heard it before. A gem.

[@mikeroberts4873]

Excellent. I can never get enough of this story. Apart from Hollywood's recent drivel adaption. I cant count the number of times I've watched the BBC's adaption with Alec Guiness - Gold!

[@muttleycrew]

Hepton was a magnificent actor, pure gold this production

[@DeSilsky]

He made a lot of Radio Dramas. The Windbear is a master piece, and also eight episodes of the Baroness Orczy, and some more.

[@muttleycrew]

Nick De Silsky thanks will definitely check those out!

[@donepearce]

He played Toby Esterhase to Alex Guinness's Smiley in the TV version. Both versions seem to have struck gold.

[@muttleycrew]

Indeed@@donepearce! He also played Claudius' emancipated slave Palas in _I, Claudius._ Of course that's a famously low-budget, high-value, talent-heavy production in which Bernard Hepton effortlessly steals scenes from the great Derek Jacobi. Now Derek Jacobi is so good as Claudius it should have been pretty much impossible to steal even small parts of scenes from him but Bernard Hepton was just that good he could steal them right from under Jacobi's prosthetic nose.

[@euanshanks]

This is amazing. Thanks so much for posting. Love this dramatization. Genius

[@barbarahenninger6642]

Thank you, this is wonderful! I just listened to John Lecarre reading Agent Running in the Field. I got it through Overdrive from my local library.

[@brettsidaway2691]

I cannot thank you enough for this upload - I have been searching for this version in a listenable format for YEARS! I don't think it was ever issued as a CD, just tape. I heard it when first broadcast in 1988. I'm a huger admirer of Bernard Hepton - he is his usual brilliant self here & Rene Basilico is a brilliant radio adaptor.

[@DeSilsky]

Rene Basilico made also "Alliens in the Mind", with Peter Cushing and Vincent Price. I guess you know that one. If not, search for it right now!!!!

[@mathonamoore123]

Listenable is not a word, audio format', is what you should say.

[@dermotriordan4046]

Listenable IS a word. Get back in your box.

[@brettsidaway2691]

@@dermotriordan4046 of course it is a word as most intelligent literate people know! Thanks for your support.

[@Swimmer47]

Listening puts a totally different yet very nice perspective on the story. It’s also pleasant to hear the English language spoken well.

[@jamisbillson4872]

Mike Pollock...it’s a moronic fashion to speak like gangsters and halfwits these days. Innit cuzbruv fam and ting!

[@ikrat9456]

What kind of English would that be?

[@shanemanchester]

I once asked a fellow fan of Alec Guinness’s Tinker why he liked the show so much. He simply replied, “it’s the way they speak to each other.” Says it all. 😀😀👍

[@karenduncan7707]

@@ikrat9456 ggggfygygyddfffddffđuyyygydtdyydyyyyfffttdyygdtþþftffftttftftfftftfttftffftftffffttftfftfftftffttfftftftffftfftftfftffttftftfttftttfftfftfftfftftftftfttftffyfttfffftfttftftffffttfffttftttftftffffttfffftftftffftfffttfftftfttfftþfttfttftfftfftftfffftfftfftfffftfttftffftttfttftftftttffftfffftfffftftfttftfttfttfttfftfftftffttttffttfffftffffffttftftftftftffffftfftfttftftftftffffftftffff

[@robbiereilly]

John le Carre (David Cornwall) also reads his stories and he has a beautiful voice, er, had, I should say, as he passed away just the other day. I'm rewatching TTSS (of course the Alec Guinness miniseries, not that gawdawful unnecessary remake they made in 2015. ) Rest in Peace, David Cornwall

[@nickycatton7882]

I’ve been listening to this while I work, and so enjoying it, thank you very much!

[@Thomasdada]

R.I.P. John le Carré. You are in from the Cold. We have to stay out a bit longer.

[@paegarbosco714]

What a poem RIP

[@johnrobertgriffiths8435]

A fantastic production of John LeCarre's novel. I have seen and listened to all previous TV, film and radio productions and this one sits high on the list. Thank you for posting

[@taraking5559]

thank you so much for this upload, I much prefer this version to the later one with Simon Russel Beale - not because of his acting but because of the script. I have been searching for this for ages!

[@paulinebradleycarroll7745]

La Carre and Hepton. I think I may faint from happiness...

[@zoyablake9538]

😂 my thoughts exactly!

[@davidw.2791]

With BBC miniseries’s Toby being George in this, and BBC Miniseries’s Peter reading the audiobook... 🥰

[@johnlindsay6923]

May I faint with you 😊

[@staffagirl]

Thank you. This is my very favourite version.

[@jimmyoshea465]

This is an excellent adaptation. Top notch👍🏼

[@craigshealy4671]

To date (01/02/21) no finer espionage tale. Takes you back to the genesis of the spy novel.

[@thomashrubecky1663]

This was the first version of Tinker, Tailor that I ever discovered. I bought it on tape while visiting the UK and have never been able to upgrade to CD or download which is an absolute shame. I suppose the first iteration encountered becomes the definitive version. I’ve listened to it innumerable times; Hepton’s Smiley is such a comforting listen. I’m so glad that the BBC released A Small Town in Germany, A Perfect Spy and The Russia House on download. I suppose they’ve withheld this and Hepton’s Smiley’s People so their epic season of Smiley staring Simon Russell Beals has a free run. It was excellent but doesn’t quite measure up to Hepton’s two outings as Smiley.

[@freemo515]

Yes I agree. What a great find.

[@adriantwiss600]

Russel Beale’s “A Call for the dead” was excellent.

[@drmaggie12]

Omaha you

[@BubblegumCrash332]

I've read the books, watched the show and film multiple times over the past couple years. I love how this radio drama has slight little details that are not in the book or show. This story never gets old.

[@DeSilsky]

Much better than the one they made later. Much much better. Thanks for sharing!!!!

[@waltermull9598]

Thanks for uploading this its been a very long time since I heard this version its very well done thanks again

[@9erner]

I love this show…. Thank you….

[@decordobauk]

Thank you for the uploads. I have been searching for Bernard Hepton radio dramas. Superb quality upload of very rare content. Excellent productions.

[@DeSilsky]

Look for something called Baroness Orczy. 8 episodes with Bernard Hepton starring. Also a Jekyll & Hyde version when he is Utterson. And a great drama called The Windbear, also starred by Hepton.

[@decordobauk]

@@DeSilsky Thank you, will do so.

[@spuspud]

Thanks for uploading these

[@spm36]

Brilliant..thanks for posting it👍

[@f12mnb]

This is interesting version - I've seen the BBC TV version, the more recent movie version and the audio book. This is well done - shows how a long work can be abridged and condensed.

[@michaelmichaels9616]

I will await listening to this properly and so interesting to have the newer version to compare it to. The BBC version with Simon Russell Beale as Smiley is incredible.

[@geoffmurrell]

This radio adaptation was my introduction to TTSS, so until I caught up with the TV series, Smiley was the soft spoken Hepton, perfect for radio. I lost my cassette copy of this over the years, so I'm delighted to be able to hear it again here, thanks for that! I too have consumed TTSS in all its formats over the years, well all of John le Carré's books actually, and here's a tip, the final novel, written when he was close to 90 years old and le Carré's final novel to be published before his death in 2020, Agent Running in the Field is very nearly as good!

[@K1lostream]

TTSP = Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Pie?

[@geoffmurrell]

😄@@K1lostream

[@K1lostream]

@@geoffmurrell Ohhh! You meanie! You can't edit your post now! lol! (clearly you can! haha!)

[@IzzyRumi]

John le Carre' died today. 12/13/2020. RIP

[@Gedagnors]

Thank you so much!!!

[@TomHyland-mk4ki]

Greetings from Dili, Timor-Leste in Southeast Asia. Wonderful drama, great aco

[@shelleymcafee8197]

So excellent!!! Thank-You$

[@GrandPrixDecals]

3rd listen lol - brilliant, thanks so sooo much for the upload!

[@greyg0at]

This is fantastic quality!! :D

[@josephangel7360]

Brilliant adaptation. " Who can spy on the spies?"

[@captainswing4487]

Thoroughly enjoyed this. Apparently there are now 300 more variations to get through before I become a TinkerTailor Spyista.

[@richardbickle4098]

superb adaptation, immensely better than the last film version

[@davidclarke67]

Read the book at least thrice, seen the TV series, the film and probably this in the mists of time. Spent this stupidly hot afternoon listening to this all the way through. Slight differences but still hugely enjoyable. Fawn is still my favourite character, few lines but every one counts...

[@swordsman007]

Wow, didn't know these existed! I am only familiar with the Simon Russell Beale dramas, which are excellent in their own right.

[@garyfrombrooklyn]

I’m with almost everyone here, that this new version is refreshing. I must’ve experienced all forms, with my favorite having Simon Russell Beale as Smiley. Adding this to the collection

[@patrickclark4607]

"You scratch my conscience, I'll drive your jag."

[@dafullclip]

Thank you

[@HD-ol1mc]

I’ve never heard this one, thanks! I love the recent version with Simon Russell Beale playing George Smiley, but this is enjoyable as well 🙂. Just a bit confusing if you’re used to Bernard Hepton playing Toby in the TV version!

[@DeSilsky]

I think this version is far much better than the one by Russell Beale. Russell Beale is excellent of course but the rest of the cast have so similar voices that sometimes you don't know who is speaking. In this version you have Douglas Blackwell, Charles Kay, Edward De Souza. They are a bit histrionic but so brilliant. By the way, Alleline is Charles Grout, that years later was the chief of Morse in the TV legendary series.

[@awhite3747]

@@DeSilsky You mean James Grout :-)

[@yvonneheald3616]

Bernard Hepton is by far a more polished and incisive actor than Simon Russell Beale. Hepton was a great actor. Not so for Russell Beale.

[@DeSilsky]

@@yvonneheald3616 I saw Russell Beale in Penny Dreadful and he was just brilliant. Perhaps Hepton is better but hard to say. But considering only voices, I prefer Hepton.

[@yvonneheald3616]

The actors in this production with Hepton as Smiley, are in another league in the delivery of text and acting competence; compared to the Russel Beale version. As for Smiley the nuanced performance by Bernard Hepton, in all his quiet spoken glory nullifies the Simon Russel Beale verison of Smiley.

[@HostileButHonourable]

Safe journey Mr. Le Carre. Thanks for all the intrigue.

[@wagstaffe7]

Well done!

[@chalmerbasham695]

Bloody marvelous adaptation......

[@DavidThomas-lt4pj]

Thank you for this download. Been looking for this for years. Heard it originally on BBC Radio 4 in the days when they did real drama, instead of the weak soap opera rubbish of the 'Archers' that is now in the ascendancy. This is a brilliant adaptation with a stellar cast. Just as thrilling as the classic series with Alec Guinness.

[@arthurdick9553]

No it isn't 😀😀

[@lizroberts1569]

You should listen to Drama on BBC sounds I’ve been listening for over 40 years and they’re still fantastic best radio plays etc broadcast. One long running soap is fine even if it’s not to your taste or mine.

[@asadifififaroo]

Wonderful

[@xarina77]

The best part of this recording is the scene with Connie Sachs. Amazing!

[@Nately22]

One of my favourite stories - the book is brilliant as is the BBC adaptation. It's not just a spy story, Le Carre examines friendship, loyalty, trust and betrayal and principles and ideals mixed with patriotism. I can't get my head around Bernard Hepton (Toby) playing Smiley....I supposed I'm too familiar with the BBC series! And Percy sounds like the actor who plays Roddy Martindale in the BBC adaptation. Everybody's love to Ann! :)

[@clairefort1252]

I

[@TheSorub]

this is a bbc radio production

[@Nately22]

@@TheSorub Yep, but here I meant he the BBC television series adapted from the book.

[@TheSorub]

@@Nately22 its a classic got it on dvd

[@Nately22]

@@TheSorub Same here. Stunning - one of the best tv series ever made by the BBC.

[@voxpopuval]

Absolute Gold!

[@billthestinker]

Nice interpretation

[@johardy8512]

My comfort listening...again ❤

[@fullwaverecked]

Wow, the movie is awesome, but the book... Priceless...

[@sallyscott4892]

One of my favourite audio books ...so worth listening to ..love Alec Guinness

[@sallyscott4892]

Silly me not Alec Guinness 😂

[@greyfox3727]

Brilliant...

[@maxinelawrence2332]

Thanks you🥳🥳Great play🧐

[@harterwind5032]

Brilliant!

[@pamodell3531]

Brilliant.

[@sieradelphi3497]

I heard John le Carre passed away. I am very sorry.. Rest in peace..John..

[@thatguycmk7548]

the series was amazing. the movie good. I'm liking this as well

[@saintexupery8406]

@Nerdsworth: now we are wondering what else you have beyond these three radio adaptations...until then, thanks for these.

[@myriaddsystems]

It helps to have read the book first in order to understand the dynamics in this production.

[@marcosaraiva9205]

Great Gem! Thank's

[@Mr.Monta77]

Bernard Hepton is excellent here, as always.

[@libertinoradio4597]

The bit about Welsh names at the discrete hotel is hilarious.

[@TheNadscratcher]

Great adaptation, a version I had never come across before. I am familiar with the book and the great BBC TV adaptation. Even the Hollywood version is half decent, but this is just perfect.

[@mckavitt13]

Rough & Ready Guitars Are “half decent” productions worth all the time & money, not to mention the British talent who could be making excellent British films? How complacent can we get?

[@nicknewman7848]

@@mckavitt13 How would you know if a film adaptation of this type will be "excellent" or "half decent" before you've even made it and then make an informed decision to make an "excellent British film" instead? Do you want a guarantee of excellence before the project starts? You can only go by the script which in this case is heavily based on the source material. I'm not sure you understand how collaborative creative processes work. You therefore lose your right to have your criticism taken seriously because you're talking bollocks. Thank you for your time.

[@alunmorgan7869]

The best adaptation I’ve heard Hepton is great as smiley

[@johardy8512]

You can buy all the Le Carre's which were on tape...now in a box of dvds...bought myself a set and a set for my son, NEVER lend them out ❤

[@peterfreeman6677]

Broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in August 1988. I hope this has a longer half-life on KZbin than all the other BBC programmes I had saved for later - all the Charles Paris and Rumpole programmes have vanished in one fell alleged-copyright-infringement swoop. Better luck with le Carre, I hope.

[@rhocroft5898]

Look at BritBox. It is a subscription series but the price is reasonable. It has many of the old series, and some new ones. Sadly it does not have either the Alec Guinness Tinker Tailor or Smiley's People yet.

[@runandraisans6055]

Hepton is brilliant in this RIP David John Moore Cornwall Why wasn’t he knighted ?

[@halfdayofthejackal9372]

He had too much class, too sophisticated for that nonsense. That's my deduction anyway.

[@adag5813]

The best one on youtube

[@jacksonburnette762]

Even better the second time around.

[@jovijohnson5418]

Best spy novels

[@alastairgordon-forbes3139]

I absolutely loathed Gary Oldman’s portrayal of George Smiley. I really enjoyed this adaptation as a radio play. The ending was a bit of a surprise.

[@tango6nf477]

A1 production

[@davidbrotheridge10]

No one ever thinks that George set the whole thing up to get revenge on Anne and bill

[@DeedUNo]

BBC Four tv are re-showing classic this tv series again start 29/05/21

[@McRocket]

Thank you, SO MUCH for this. I assume this is blasphemy. But I actually prefer Bernard Hepton over Alec Guinness for Smiley (though only by a little). And I realize the roles are written differently for radio vs. TV. ☮

[@krisztinatakacsnefuredi4218]

Connie is absolutely fabulous!

[@Kidraver555]

I found it easier to see the plot/story without the visuals.

[@9-11DidBush]

I prefer this reading however once you have seen the film,you can’t help but imagine Colin Firth as Haden. the voice is IDENTICAL.

[@leemurray7240]

Really good this I always liked alex Guinness. But I found this just a entertaining... after reading spycatcher the I think this must have been suspected by the people in the service .

[@berserkerx7]

Isn't that Nigel Stock who played Roddy "bloody" Martindale in the TV adaptation in the beginning of the recording? This is like a cast remix of the TV series!

[@Nately22]

Yes, exactly what I thought; 'Percy Puppet' being played by Roddy.

[@Nately22]

Just saw it's Charles Grout (the actor who plays Morse's boss) playing Alleline, not Nigel Stock!

[@timelordtardis]

@@Nately22 It's James Grout, not Charles.

[@Nately22]

@@timelordtardis Ah cheers!

[@davidgladstone6588]

Yes, Nigel Stock!

[@nancybeach8971]

Is the actor playing Jerry Westerby, Brian Cox? This radio version is an excellent adaptation.

[@chrisst8922]

George sounds like Toby Estahase in this.

[@obadiahspong2300]

All the characters in this are a lot "nicer" than in the great BBC 70s series and book. Ricky was a rogue, Control was a serpent , Lacon was a self serving creep and Alleline was a pompous Scot.

[@arthurdick9553]

You did not mention your preference ? Mine is the Bbbc series. Alec Guinness is perfect.

[@obadiahspong2300]

@@arthurdick9553 The BBC's late 70s production of TTSS and SP are two of the finest pieces of television ever produced. Sadly we no longer have that quality of actors or producers anymore.

[@arthurdick9553]

Obadiah Spong Right. Wolf Hall was very special, but I certainly agree for the most part. The recent film was poor and the Cumberbatch role was Hollywood woke.

[@obadiahspong2300]

@@arthurdick9553 I agree Arthur, the recent TV version of Little Drummer Girl was poor and the costumes and attitudes didn't even reflect the era. Even the old 1984 Hollywood version with Kinski and Keaton was better. I thought the 1981 TV version of Brideshead Revisted was excellent.

[@philippankhurst6680]

@@obadiahspong2300 How right you are. They have never been bettered and probably never will be.

[@MrEv445]

Good movie 🎥 but this audiobook read out is great

[@arthurdick9553]

Watch the BBC series with Alec Guinness. Then decide which is best.

[@sallyscott4892]

P.S. if you enjoyed this do look for smiley's people ( unfortunately they didn't do The honarable school boy ) and Call for the dead ( prequel) in the same series ....murder of quality is worth a listen too. All fantastic

[@ellenthorne8222]

Had this version on tape unfortunately one of the cassette tapes got badly mangled. Although I have it audible, kindle and paperback, its nice to Bernard's version of Smiley. I think he also did Smiley's people, if so any chance of an upload?

[@alcabane3125]

Is this a faithful adaptation of the book if so, i want to be a John Le Carre Completist, being one of my favorite spy fiction and non fiction writers as well. Thanks for the upload can wait to get into the film and tv adaptation once im done with it. RIP John Le Carre. Its also ironic that his place of rest and writer was a house near a beach, and i always thought writers had that getaway when writing a book, and that was interesting fascination. can someone let me know if this is the full audio of the whole book? Its a great hear

[@mi6hq115]

John le Carré described Ben Macintyre's fact based novel, The Spy and The Traitor, as "the best true spy story I have ever read". It was about Kim Philby's Russian counterpart, a KGB Colonel named Oleg Gordievsky, codename Sunbeam. In 1974 Gordievsky became a double agent working for MI6 in Copenhagen which was when Bill Fairclough aka Edward Burlington unwittingly launched his career as a secret agent for MI6. Fairclough and le Carré knew of each other: le Carré had even rejected Fairclough's suggestion in 2014 that they collaborate on a book. As le Carré said at the time, "Why should I? I've got by so far without collaboration so why bother now?" A realistic response from a famous master of fiction in his eighties! Gordievsky never met Fairclough, but he did know Fairclough's handler, Colonel Alan McKenzie aka Colonel Alan Pemberton. It is little wonder therefore that in Beyond Enkription, the first fact based novel in The Burlington Files espionage series, genuine double agents, disinformation and deception weave wondrously within the relentless twists and turns of evolving events. Beyond Enkription is set in 1974 in London, Nassau, Port au Prince and the Americas. Edward Burlington, a far from boring accountant, unwittingly started working for Alan McKenzie in MI6 and later worked eyes wide open for the CIA. What happens is so exhilarating and bone chilling it makes one wonder what the point of reading espionage fiction when facts are so much more breathtaking. Len Deighton and Mick Herron could be forgiven for thinking they co-wrote the raw noir anti-Bond narrative, Beyond Enkription. Atmospherically it's reminiscent of Ted Lewis' Get Carter of Michael Caine fame. If anyone ever makes a film based on Beyond Enkription they'll only have themselves to blame if it doesn't go down in history as a classic espionage thriller.

[@lizroberts1569]

Ah who doesn’t remember Oleg Gordievsky… 😂 such an evocative dangerous time. Gordievsky is still alive, I’m sure I heard an interview with him in the 80’s quite a sense of humour I thought.

[@mi6uk]

Yes - he is still alive @@lizroberts1569 If you are interested in sophisticated espionage, Ian Fleming, Oleg Gordievsky, John le Carré or Kim Philby you should have heard of Pemberton's People in MI6 by now. Colonel Alan Pemberton CVO MBE knew all of them and features as a leading protagonist in Beyond Enkription in The Burlington Files series. The book "Beyond Enkription" by Bill Fairclough is the first stand-alone fact-based espionage novel of six autobiographical tomes in The Burlington Files series. As the first book in the series, it provides a gripping introduction to the world of British intelligence and espionage. It is an intense electrifying spy thriller that had me perched on the edge of my seat from beginning to end. The twists and turns in the interwoven plots kept me guessing beyond the epilogue. The characters were wholesome, well-developed and intriguing. The author's attention to detail added extra layers of authenticity to the narrative. In real life Bill Fairclough aka Edward Burlington (MI6 codename JJ) was one of Pemberton’s People in MI6; for more about that see a brief News Article dated 31 October 2022 published in TheBurlingtonFiles website. The series follows the real life of Bill Fairclough (and his family) who worked not only for British Intelligence, but also the CIA et al for several decades. The first tome is set in 1974 in London, Nassau and Port au Prince: see TheBurlingtonFiles website for a synopsis. Fairclough is not a professional but his writing style is engaging and fast-paced, making it difficult to put the book down as he effortlessly glides from cerebral issues to action-packed scenes which are never that far apart. Beyond Enkription is the stuff memorable spy films are made of. It’s unadulterated, realistic, punchy, pacy and provocative. While the book does not feature John le Carré’s “delicate diction, sophisticated syntax and placid plots” it remains a riveting and delightful read. This thriller is like nothing we have ever come across before. Indeed, we wonder what The Burlington Files would have been like if David Cornwell (aka John le Carré) had collaborated with Bill Fairclough whom critics have likened to “a posh Harry Palmer”. They did consider collaborating but did not proceed as explained in the aforementioned News Article. Nonetheless, critics have lauded Beyond Enkription as being ”up there with My Silent War by Kim Philby and No Other Choice by George Blake”. Overall, Beyond Enkription is a brilliantly refreshing book and a must read, especially for espionage cognoscenti. I cannot wait to see what is in store for us in the future. In the meantime, before reading Beyond Enkription do visit TheBurlingtonFiles website. It is like a living espionage museum and breathtaking in its own right.