A Delicate Truth Audiobook By John le Carré cover art

A Delicate Truth

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A Delicate Truth

By: John le Carré
Narrated by: John le Carré
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About this listen

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?

John le Carre 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.

©2013 John le Carré (P)2013 Penguin Audio Contemporary Fiction Genre Fiction
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Critic reviews

"One of those writers who will be read a century from now" (Robert Harris)
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Narrator was excellent. Provides insights into the privatisation of war. Voice modulation during narration was a welcome change.

Good crisp engaging listen.

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

grate story

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

excellent mystery!

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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.

You will love it !

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I have read all le Carre's earlier books but this was not what I expected. The plot was weak and the character development poor. That said there was still the mystery and intrigue of old but this will be the last of his books that I read.

Not My Favourite

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I cannot believe I have never read or listened to any of his books before. excellent. John's narration is superb. I will be looking for more of his books which he narrates himself.

my first John Le Carre book

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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.

Excellent

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starts slow.. but builds up.. well read..the makings of a true story.. worth a read

topical political theory..

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Very entertaining, another great book and reading by John Le Carre - I hope for more books like this one.

Very entertaining!

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I found this story from John le Carré absolutely gripping from beginning to end. In my view his best work.

Absolutely marvelous.

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