George Smiley
Intelligence officer of the Circus
9 books · 1961 to 2017First appears in Call for the DeadCharacter guide · 9 books · 1961 to 2017 · Set in London
John le Carré
George Smiley, quiet and unglamorous, is the conscience of the British Secret Service, the Circus. His long duel with Karla of Moscow Centre runs through the Karla trilogy, and Peter Guillam is beside him from the first book to the last.
Best estimate, compiled from series guides, publisher descriptions and reviews where available, and from memory otherwise. Book level only, not chapter level. Minor includes cameos and brief references. Each book carries a confidence rating in its tooltip. Le Carré novels without Smiley or his circle are left out.
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John le Carré books in order
Each series in publication order, with its lead characters. Where the story runs in a different order, switch to Story order. Crossover books are marked and listed under their main series. Use My books to track what you have read.
George Smiley
6 books · Set in London- 1Call for the Dead1961With George SmileyBuy on Amazon
- 2A Murder of Quality1962With George SmileyBuy on Amazon
- 3The Spy Who Came in from the Cold1963With Alec LeamasBuy on Amazon
- 4The Looking Glass War1965Buy on Amazon
- 5The Secret Pilgrim1990With NedBuy on Amazon
- 6A Legacy of Spies2017With Peter GuillamBuy on Amazon
Karla trilogy
3 books · Set in London- 1Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy1974With George SmileyBuy on Amazon
- 2The Honourable Schoolboy1977With Jerry WesterbyBuy on Amazon
- 3Smiley’s People1979With George SmileyBuy on Amazon
Characters
13 recurring and key characters, with the book each one first appears in.
The Circus
Peter Guillam
Smiley’s loyal lieutenant
6 books · 1961 to 2017First appears in Call for the DeadAnn Smiley
Smiley’s unfaithful wife
3 books · 1961 to 1979First appears in Call for the DeadControl
Head of the Circus
2 books · 1963 to 1974First appears in The Spy Who Came in from the ColdConnie Sachs
The Circus’s memory on Soviet matters
3 books · 1974 to 1979First appears in Tinker Tailor Soldier SpyToby Esterhase
Hungarian-born Circus officer
3 books · 1974 to 2017First appears in Tinker Tailor Soldier SpyBill Haydon
Senior Circus officer
1 book · 1974First appears in Tinker Tailor Soldier SpyJerry Westerby
Journalist and part-time agent
2 books · 1974 to 1977First appears in Tinker Tailor Soldier SpyNed
Veteran officer who looks back on his career
1 book · 1990First appears in The Secret PilgrimThe other side
Karla
Head of Moscow Centre’s secret department
3 books · 1974 to 1979First appears in Tinker Tailor Soldier SpyHans-Dieter Mundt
East German security officer
2 books · 1961 to 1963First appears in Call for the DeadAlec Leamas
Circus field agent
2 books · 1963 to 2017First appears in The Spy Who Came in from the ColdLiz Gold
Young Communist librarian who loves Leamas
2 books · 1963 to 2017First appears in The Spy Who Came in from the Cold