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Agent Running in the Field

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Agent Running in the Field

By: John le Carré
Narrated by: John le Carré
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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

Narrated by John le Carre.


The
SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER

Nat, a 47 year-old veteran of Britain's Secret Intelligence Service, believes his years as an agent runner are over. He is back in London with his wife, the long-suffering Prue. But with the growing threat from Moscow Centre, the office has one more job for him. Nat is to take over The Haven, a defunct substation of London General with a rag-tag band of spies. The only bright light on the team is young Florence, who has her eye on Russia Department and a Ukrainian oligarch with a finger in the Russia pie.

Nat is not only a spy, he is a passionate badminton player. His regular Monday evening opponent is half his age: the introspective and solitary Ed. Ed hates Brexit, hates Trump and hates his job at some soulless media agency. And it is Ed, of all unlikely people, who will take Prue, Florence and Nat himself down the path of political anger that will ensnare them all. Agent Running in the Field is a chilling portrait of our time, now heartbreaking, now darkly humorous, told to us with unflagging tension by the greatest chronicler of our age.

Times Books of the Year

New Statesman Book of the Year

Guardian Books of the Year

Sunday Times Books of the Year

TLS Books of the Year

Daily Mail Books of the Year

Mail on Sunday's Best Books of the Year

Apple Best books of 2019

©2019 John le Carré (P)2019 Penguin Audio
Action & Adventure Espionage Genre Fiction Military Mystery, Thriller & Suspense Political Spies & Politics Suspense Thriller & Suspense War & Military Fiction Russia Crime Witty Thriller War England Law

Critic Reviews

"No other writer has charted - pitilessly for politicians but thrillingly for readers - the public and secret histories of his times." (The Guardian)

"John le Carré is as recognisable a writer as Dickens or Austen." (Financial Times)

"No writer has ever been better at turning the act of two people talking politely to each other across a desk into a blood sport." (Telegraph)

All stars
Most relevant  
Masterfully read by the author. A compelling tale of the twists and turns of the secret world showing some of its moral complexities. The book is entertaining and the teller of the tale, Nat, is engaging and likeable.

Vintage Le Carre

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Excellent plot, interesting take on contemporary geopolitical challenges. Great to hear JLC reading it. Thoroughly enjoyable.

World turned upside down

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The last spy story of Le Carré doesn’t disappoint. Set in 2018, the plot as the usual unexpected twists and turns, and although the ending is predictable, the standard of the writing and narration never fail to please.

The last spy story

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How mightily pleasing to listen to wonderful “old school” language but with such panache that you thrill to each scene as it is set and played out.
The gifted ways the author transmits the flavour/character/place whilst dealing with dialogue or narrative transitions is so effortless that I found myself almost actually clapping.
Yes, there was proselytizing, but hey, it’s those kind of times we are living through.
Hope life goes on in safety for all.

Smashing serve of great storytelling.

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I very much enjoyed this novel, particularly John Le Carre as narrator. His rendition of the world-weary agent runner was superb. The plot was excellent though if there is any flaw it was the speed of the dénouement.

Le Carre still delivers the goods

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Well written, beautifully narrated and ultimately an uplifting tale of light from darkness. Listen to be entertained while reflecting on a contemporary political landscape.

Tight and Entertaining

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Beautifully narrated by the author himself, the story is quite unconventional. You are led on a journey which, I thought, ended in a satisfactory conclusion

Smashing

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A fun and interesting story, and unlike many Le Carre books, a proper ending.

A bit heavy-handed at times in his anti-Brexit, anti-Trump rants, when for one with similar views.

As much as I like the idea of Le Carre himself reading his own stories, I feel a bit guilty preferring Michael Jayston's narration from earlier books

Interesting story, well presented

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interesting modern spy story, great take on Brexit, amazing to hear John Le Carre's reading voice.

great reading

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I am a writer and performer. I only wish I could do either as well as JlC has done here. A fun, joyous story, always just a heart beat away from exploding into a nightmare of terror.

Quite beautiful

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