A Delicate Truth

By: John le Carré

Narrated by: John le Carré

A counter-terror operation, codenamed Wildlife, is being mounted in Britain's most precious colony, Gibraltar. Its purpose: to capture and abduct a high-value jihadist arms-buyer. Its authors: an ambitious Foreign Office Minister, and a private defence contractor who is also his close friend. So delicate is the operation that even the Minister's Private Secretary, Toby Bell, is not cleared for it.

Suspecting a disastrous conspiracy, Toby attempts to forestall it, but is promptly posted overseas. Three years on, summoned by Sir Christopher Probyn, retired British diplomat, to his decaying Cornish manor house, and closely watched by Probyn's daughter Emily, Toby must choose between his conscience and his duty to the Service.

If the only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing, how can he keep silent?

'No other writer has charted - pitilessly for politicians but thrillingly for readers - the public and secret histories of his times, from the second world war to the 'war on terror'' Guardian

'The master of the modern spy novel returns . . . this is writing of such quality that - as Robert Harris put it - it will be read in one hundred years. John le Carré was never a spy-turned-writer, he was a writer who found his canvas in espionage, as Dickens did in other worlds. The two men deserve comparison' Daily Mail

'A brilliant climax, with sinister deaths, casual torture, wrecked lives and shameful compromises' Observer

'With A Delicate Truth, le Carré has in a sense come home. And it's a splendid homecoming . . . the novel is the most satisfying, subtle and compelling of his recent oeuvre' The Times

John le Carré was born in 1931 and attended the universities of Bern and Oxford. He taught at Eton and served briefly in British Intelligence during the Cold War. For the last fifty years he has lived by his pen. He divides his time between London and Cornwall.

Critic reviews

I think he has easily burst out of being a genre writer and will be remembered as perhaps the most significant novelist of the second half of the 20th century in Britain. He will have charted our decline and recorded the nature of our bureaucracies like no one else has. But that's just been his route into some profound anxiety in the national narrative. Most writers I know think le Carré is no longer a spy writer. He should have won the Booker Prize a long time ago. It's time he won it and it's time he accepted it. He's in the first rank. (Ian McEwan)

No other writer has charted - pitilessly for politicians but thrillingly for readers - the public and secret histories of his times, from the Second World War to the "War on Terror"

One of those writers who will be read a century from now (Robert Harris)

With A Delicate Truth, le Carré has in a sense come home. And it's a splendid homecoming . . . Satisfying, subtle and compelling

The perfectly paced, exquisitely cynical style that is le Carré's hallmark

The master of the modern spy novel returns . . . this is writing of such quality that - as Robert Harris put it - it will be read in one hundred years

A brilliant climax, with sinister deaths, casual torture, wrecked lives and shameful compromises

John le Carré has lost none of his ability in skewering the murkier foibles of the British Establishment. A tale of deception, greed, betrayal and ultimately, revenge . . . it is not until the last few pages that the full three dimensions of the plot are thrillingly revealed

A writer of towering gifts . . . le Carré is one of the great analysts of the contemporary scene, who has a talent to provoke as well as unsettle

John le Carré takes us back to his favourite scenarios: Whitehall, the secret services, the gentleman's clubs, dodgy bankers, corrupt public schoolboys and gruesome American neo-cons . . . revelling once more in that imaginary world of secrets and lies that is le Carré's gift to us

grate story

there was a problem with the sound at the beginning, sorted out after a while

Good crisp engaging listen.

Narrator was excellent. Provides insights into the privatisation of war. Voice modulation during narration was a welcome change.

excellent mystery!

excellent story well read the characters came to life an unhappy ending. will recommend it to my friends.

You will love it !

This novel is not strictly in Le Carre's usual genre of the spy novel but it has the pace and mystery and well written characteristics of his other novels. What sets this one apart is Le Carre's interpretation / reading of his own characters..He really brings them all to life and gets the accents and manerisms just down pat, to the extent that I could easily visualize each and every one of them and felt I knew them all intimately. Obviously he has an advantage in narrating his own work but I would still rate this the best narration of any book I have yet listened to. Somehow his writing has become more subtle and sophisticated with amusing nuances or perhaps it is his interpretation of his material that makes this a truly a great listen. Great story as well.

Excellent

Would you listen to A Delicate Truth again? Why?

Yes

Who was your favorite character and why?

Emily Probyn,

Have you listened to any of John le Carré’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Yes I have, a great performance by John

If you could take any character from A Delicate Truth out to dinner, who would it be and why?

Giles Oakley, intriguing tales

Any additional comments?

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, a great listen.