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  • The Honourable Schoolboy

  • The Karla Trilogy, Book 2
  • By: John le Carré
  • Narrated by: Michael Jayston
  • Length: 20 hrs and 28 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (103 ratings)

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The Honourable Schoolboy

By: John le Carré
Narrated by: Michael Jayston
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Publisher's Summary

George Smiley has become chief of the battered British Secret Service. The betrayals of a Soviet double agent have riddled the spy network, and Smiley wants revenge. He chooses his weapon: Jerry Westerby, "The Honourable Schoolboy", a passionate lover, and a seasoned, reckless secret agent. Westerby is pointed east, to Hong Kong. So begins the terrifying game.

©2009 David Cornwell (P)2014 Bolinda Publishing Pty Ltd.

Critic Reviews

"All the good things are there: the Balkan complexities of plot; the Dickensian profusion of idiosyncratic characters; and above all, le Carré's glistening social observation." ( Time magazine)

What listeners say about The Honourable Schoolboy

Average Customer Ratings
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

brilliant espionage novel

This is one of Le Carré 's best!.
plot, characterisation and dialogue are all brilliant.
it makes an excellent audiobook.
The first chapters , setting the scene in Hong Gong are a little over the top but persistence is rewarded.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

The Honourable Schoolboy

Thie narrative slowly, clearly and cleverly drops trails of breadcrumbs that pull you along unraveling an interlacing web of characters, linkages and events that finally come together to expose an ugly, and for George Smiley, a perhaps unsatisfactory but not unexpected conclusion.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Fantastic Smiley story, the best yet.

As always Michael Jayston's performance is flawless. This complex story features a really broad cast of interesting characters, wonderful settings and a suitable ending.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

loved it

Brilliantly read by Michael Jayston. Michael uses his voice to bring to life diverse and rich characters.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

So good, Reading them all.

Le Carré & Jayston are a dream combination. Fantastic plots, wonderful writing, engaging characters - and Jayston’s rich voice and understanding of the material make him a master. Could not be better.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

The honourable schoolboy

Brilliant story by the excellent Le Carré. This story has been a favourite of mine for years. Michael Jayston brings the story to wonderful life.
Looking forward to enjoying to Smiley's People

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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Excellent Rendition

Michael Jayston reads well He is the Smiley reader par excellence Hard to put down

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Perfect book to get lost in

Incredible characters and wonderful storyline with a rich backdrop in exotic spies and the underbelly of the Southeast Asian scene

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Not as Smiley

Dialogue still good but the story sags, and the setting hasn't aged as well as others of this time. If you've never read a Le Carré, try The Spy Who Came In From The Cold instead. If you've just finished Tinker Tailor, go A Perfect Spy.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Brilliant in parts, tedious in much

This story has brilliant parts of action, dialogue, and descriptive setting. And I do love the main character, Jerry Westerby.

But much of the story is tedious and boring, especially the legend building/character backstories. Some of it also seems like a travel diary of Southeast Asia, with no tension in the narrative. And the ending is such a letdown.

I love the narrator overall for his rich tone and characterisations, but don’t love his attempts at an Australian accent.

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