John Le Carre Reading Order
7 series · 37 books
John le Carré, born David John Moore Cornwell, was a renowned Irish-British author known for his compelling espionage thrillers. With an impressive portfolio of 37 books spanning 7 series, including the iconic George Smiley and The Karla Trilogy, he has crafted a lasting legacy in the genre. Active from 1961 to 2024, le Carré's works, including notable standalone novels and collections of short stories, have left an indelible mark on literature and popular culture.
Anthologies Series
Complete3 books (2003–2009)
Start with The Book of Spies: An Anthology of Literary Espionage and read in order.
| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 | The Book of Spies: An Anthology of Literary Espionage 2003Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 2 | Not One More Death 2006Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 3 |  Ox-Tales: Fire 2009Buy 🇺🇸 |
George Smiley Series
Ongoing10 books (1961–2024)
Start with Call for the Dead, the first of 10 books in the George Smiley series.
| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 |  Call for the Dead 1961Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 2 |  A Murder of Quality 1962Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 3 |  The Spy Who Came in from the Cold 1963Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 4 |  The Looking Glass War 1965Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 5 |  Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy 1974Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 6 |  The Honourable Schoolboy 1977Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 7 |  Smiley's People 1979Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 8 |  The Secret Pilgrim 1990Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 9 |  A Legacy of Spies 2017Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 10 | Karla's Choice(By: Nick Harkaway) 2024Buy 🇺🇸 |
John le Carr Short Story Collections Series
Complete1 book (1999–1999)
| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 |  Sarratt and the Draper of Watford 1999Buy 🇺🇸 |
Non-Fiction Series
Likely Complete2 books (2016–2022)
Start with The Pigeon Tunnel and read in order.
| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 |  The Pigeon Tunnel 2016Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 2 | A Private Spy: The Letters of John le Carré(With: Tim Cornwell) 2022Buy 🇺🇸 |
Short Stories/Novellas Series
Complete1 book (2016–2016)
| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 | Dare I Weep, Dare I Mourn? 2016Buy 🇺🇸 |
Standalone Novels Series
Likely Complete17 books (1968–2021)
Start with A Small Town in Germany, the first of 17 books in the Standalone Novels series.
| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 |  A Small Town in Germany 1968Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 2 |  The Naive and Sentimental Lover 1971Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 3 |  The Little Drummer Girl / A Death in the Family 1983Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 4 |  A Perfect Spy 1986Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 5 |  The Russia House 1989Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 6 |  The Night Manager 1993Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 7 |  Our Game 1994Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 8 |  The Tailor of Panama 1996Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 9 |  Single & Single 1999Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 10 |  The Constant Gardener 2001Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 11 |  Absolute Friends 2003Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 12 |  The Mission Song 2006Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 13 |  A Most Wanted Man 2008Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 14 |  Our Kind of Traitor 2010Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 15 | A Delicate Truth 2013Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 16 |  Agent Running in the Field 2019Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 17 |  Silverview 2021Buy 🇺🇸 |
The Karla Trilogy Series
Complete3 books (1974–1979)
Start with Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy and read in order.
| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 | Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy 1974Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 2 | The Honourable Schoolboy 1977Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 3 | Smiley's People 1979Buy 🇺🇸 |
Frequently Asked Questions
- How many books has John Le Carre written?
- John Le Carre has written 37 books across 7 series. Their published works span from 1961 to 2024.
- What is the first book in each John Le Carre series?
- Here are the first books in John Le Carre's series: Anthologies: The Book of Spies: An Anthology of Literary Espionage; George Smiley: Call for the Dead; Non-Fiction: The Pigeon Tunnel; The Karla Trilogy: Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy.
- What order should I read John Le Carre's books?
- We recommend reading John Le Carre's series in publication order. Each series can be read independently.
- Is John Le Carre still writing new books?
- Yes, John Le Carre has 1 ongoing series: George Smiley.