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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

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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
What a revelation it is to hear JLC read his own work.
A great p!easure, and a wonderful story.

Absolutely Bloody Marvellous

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Rating a JLC book should be a (very) humbling experience for any reader or listener as most evidently much time and work have been consumed to produce the final products.

I'm therefore shocked by some loose listeners comments, however 4 or 5 starish rating.

"David, your reading skills surpass that of Michael Jayston, very possibly because Mr Jayston might not have as much freedom of speech path as you do on your own work."

JLC's reading performance is notable by its clarity, easy flow and most importantly "the tone giving the listener a sense of being inside the story".

Mr. John Le Carré, thank you for producing yet another Masterpiece - for both readers and listeners.

CDT

Best reading performance to date

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In wine terms this was surely a first growth Bordeaux - complex, well structured, deep, at times poignant... It’s been 3 days now since I had my final sip and I’m still enjoying the afterglow. This is a le Carré right out of the top drawer - it makes your heart sing!
And it’s read by the master oenologist himself - what a treat. Much as I loved all the Michael Jayston read books I think le Carré as narrator is simply superb. Granted it takes a few minutes to realise how good he is (and some reviewers here never did manage) but take it from me it’s understated perfection. Now I’d like to make a heartfelt plea... Mr le Carré if you’re reading this get back to work and give us more Nat!

Superb! - Best book I’ve drunk in ages

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This is a spy story with a different twist to the standard spy stories so enjoy.

enjoyed

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A beautifully crafted story. I really enjoyed hearing John le Carré reading it as the author intended.
Loved it.

Gripping to the end

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