John le Carré

1931–2020

1 series 20 books in order 10 standalone books

David John Moore Cornwell, known by his pen name John le Carré, was a British Irish author who wrote espionage novels. He was born on 19 October 1931 and died on 12 December 2020. He worked for British intelligence agencies, MI5 and MI6, during the 1950s and 1960s. His third novel, The Spy Who Came in from the Cold (1963), became an international best-seller and was adapted into an award-winning film. This success allowed him to leave his job and write full-time. His works, including Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, The Constant Gardener, and The Night Manager, were adapted for film and television. He took Irish citizenship near the end of his life, due to his opposition to Brexit. He was considered one of the greatest novelists of the postwar era.

Born: 1931
Known for: George Smiley series

Series by John le Carré

George Smiley series

10 books in order · 1961–2017 · Publication order

Call for the Dead

1961 · John le Carré

This novel by John le Carré is his first book and introduces George Smiley, who investigates the apparent suicide of Samuel Fennan, a Foreign Office…
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A murder of quality

1962 · John le Carré

John le Carré's second novel is the only one in the series set in a public school rather than focusing on espionage. The story follows George Smiley,…
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The Spy Who Came in from the Cold

1964 · John le Carré

The Spy Who Came in from the Cold is a 1963 Cold War spy novel by John le Carré. The story follows Alec Leamas, a British intelligence officer, who…
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The Looking Glass War

1969 · John le Carré

The Looking Glass War is a 1965 spy novel by John le Carré, written in response to the positive public reaction to his previous novel, The Spy Who…
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Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

1974 · John le Carré

George Smiley is assigned to uncover the identity of the double agent operating in the highest levels of British Intelligence. A 1974 novel by John…
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The Honourable Schoolboy

1977 · John le Carré

With the Service reeling from betrayal, Smiley takes charge of the wreckage and hunts for a way to strike back at Moscow. A trail of laundered money…
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Smiley's People

1979 · John le Carré

Smiley's People is a 1979 spy novel by John le Carré. It is the third and final book in the "Karla Trilogy," following Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy and…
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The Secret Pilgrim

1990 · John le Carré

The Secret Pilgrim is a 1990 novel by John le Carré, structured as an informal dinner conversation at a spy-training school in Sarratt. The story is…
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A legacy of spies

2017 · John le Carré

Peter Guillam, long retired to France, is summoned back to London when the modern Service faces legal fallout from a Cold War operation that ended in…
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Standalone books

Frequently asked questions

How many books has John le Carré written?

We list 20 books by John le Carré across 1 series, published between 1961–2020 — each shown in full reading order.

What order should I read John le Carré's books?

Read each series in publication order. A good place to start is “Call for the Dead.” Open any series above for its complete numbered reading order.

Where can I buy John le Carré's books?

Every title links to Amazon from its series page — see our affiliate disclosure in the footer for how that supports the site.

Bibliography and reading orders compiled from verified bibliographic data. Spotted an error? We continuously correct the catalog.