“The secret services are the only real measure of a nation’s political health, the only real expression of its subconscious.”
Chapter 1
George Smiley, a recently retired British intelligence officer, is approached by Oliver Lacon of the Civil Service. Lacon reveals concerns about a possible Soviet mole within the highest ranks of the Circus (MI6). Smiley is reluctant but agrees to investigate discreetly.
Chapter 2
Smiley begins his investigation by meeting with retired officer Connie Sachs, who recalls suspicious incidents involving Soviet defectors. He also visits Jim Prideaux, a former operative left crippled after a botched mission in Czechoslovakia, whose story hints at betrayal from within.
Chapter 3
Smiley delves into the past, examining the tenure of Control, the former head of the Circus. Control had suspected a mole and initiated Operation Testify in Czechoslovakia, which ended disastrously. Smiley suspects this failure was orchestrated by the mole.
Chapter 4
Smiley recruits Peter Guillam, a loyal former colleague, to help gather classified files. They uncover inconsistencies in reports from Hungary and a mysterious source codenamed “Witchcraft,” which seems too good to be true.
Chapter 5
Smiley interviews Jerry Westerby, a journalist and occasional agent, who reveals details about a Soviet operative named Karla. Smiley realizes Karla may have turned a British officer into a mole years earlier.
Chapter 6
Smiley and Guillam analyze the Circus’s inner circle, narrowing down suspects to four high-ranking officers: Percy Alleline, Bill Haydon, Roy Bland, and Toby Esterhaze. Each had access to sensitive information and opportunity to leak it.
Chapter 7
Through careful deduction, Smiley focuses on Bill Haydon, a charming and talented officer with close ties to Alleline. Flashbacks reveal Haydon’s possible motivations, including personal grievances and ideological shifts.
Chapter 8
Smiley sets a trap, using Guillam to plant false information. Haydon takes the bait, confirming his role as the mole. In a tense confrontation, Haydon admits his betrayal but offers no remorse, seeing it as a ideological necessity.
Chapter 9
Haydon is extracted for interrogation but is mysteriously killed before revealing everything. Smiley reflects on the cost of betrayal and the moral ambiguities of espionage. He is reinstated to lead the Circus, tasked with rebuilding trust.
Key ideas
- Betrayal and loyalty in the shadowy world of espionage
- The psychological toll of deception and moral compromise
- Cold War tensions and ideological conflicts
- The fragility of institutional trust
- The personal cost of professional duty
Notable Adaptations
| 1979 | BBC Miniseries | Starring Alec Guinness as Smiley, highly faithful adaptation |
| 2011 | Feature Film | Gary Oldman as Smiley, condensed but atmospheric |
| 2017 | Radio Drama | BBC Radio 4 production with Simon Russell Beale |
Who should read this book?
- Fans of intricate spy thrillers with psychological depth
- Readers interested in Cold War history and espionage
- Those who appreciate morally complex characters
- Lovers of literary fiction with meticulous plotting