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Author John le Carré to Revive His Most Famous Spy, George Smiley, After 27 Years in New Novel

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Somewhere, James Bond just took a sip of his martini and did a massive spit take. In 1990, author John le Carré published The Secret Pilgrim, his eighth and heretofore final novel to include the exploits of his most well-known character, George Smiley, a British spy inspired in part by le Carré’s experience working for Britain’s Security Service and Secret Intelligence Service. Smiley has also seen the big screen in several film adaptations including The Spy Who Came in From the Cold and Tinker Tailor Solider Spy. Now, Viking has announced the return of Smiley in the author’s new book, A Legacy of Spies, due out September 5. Tending to provide a somewhat less glamorous look at espionage than, say, 007, Smiley and his colleagues will now “receive new scrutiny about their Cold War years with British intelligence and face a younger generation that knows little about their history.†It’s no invisible car hurtling across Iceland, but you know, not every spy needs that type of thing.

Spy George Smiley Returns in John le Carré’s New Novel