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The Russia House

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The Russia House

By: John le Carré
Narrated by: Full Cast, Tom Baker
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About this listen

 In the third year of perestroika, London publisher Barley Blair is sent a manuscript from Moscow. Exposing Russian nuclear threats as a sham, the information - if it’s genuine - could shatter East-West relations. Jazz-loving, hard-drinking Blair is hardly the spymasters’ idea of the perfect agent, yet they are forced to send him to Moscow to make contact. But the Cold War thaws when Barley meets Katya, the beautiful Russian intermediary who is equally sceptical of state ideology. Mere pawns in a deadly game of international espionage, they nevertheless represent the breakdown of hostilities and a future which poses a huge threat to the entrenched professionals on both sides... Both a gripping spy saga and a poignant love story, The Russia House delivers all the excitement and tension expected from the master of espionage fiction. This BBC Radio 4 adaptation was dramatised by René Basilico. Classics Espionage Spies & Politics Thriller & Suspense Adaptation Russia Fiction

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All stars
Most relevant
I have not seen the film version, but I enjoyed listening to this BBC dramatisation. Tom Baker delivers a brilliant performance as the flawed Barley. Carre writes and explores the weaknesses of the human nature - love, betrayal, and duplicity. I find the drama of personal relationships between the characters fascinating, along with the involvement of the secret services.
Again with Carre, we are left wondering...

Left wondering...

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Can not quite put my finger on why this one does not appeal to me nor capture my attention in the same way all my other le Carre’s in the collection do. Something different about the main characters did not appeal nor feel any empathy. Quite left me feeling out in the cold. I hope that I will want to re listen to this when the mood takes me and maybe feel different. I have all the other le Carre’s in this collection and have enjoyed them all so much that I have eagerly purchased the next one and re listened to them all.


NOT MY FAVOURITE

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Tom Baker held this together with his usual reviewer a performance. The adaptation feels a little dated (goes back to 1994) and with the exception of Katya, the female roles are almost laughably secondary.

One major frustration is that the credits to the BBC production has been removed. It’s a disservice to the actors that they are not properly credited for the work that they do.

As always with Le Carré, a great listen

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I thought the Sean Connery filmed version of this story was great, but Tom Baker manages to top it. He's got precisely the right devil-may-care attitude for the Barley Blair character, which so frustrates the CIA in their dealings with him. An excellent dramatisation by all the actors involved, and thoroughly enjoyable.

ahh.. Carre and Baker at their best

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A superb adaptation, cast and performance. Tom Baker at his very best. What more can I say.

Superb

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