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A Perfect Spy (Dramatised)
- Narrated by: James Fox, Harriet Walter, Julian Rhind-Tutt
- Length: 3 hrs and 57 mins
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A Perfect Spy (Dramatised)
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Summary
A BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramatisation of the bestselling novel by John le Carré, starring James Fox, Harriet Walter and Julian Rhind-Tutt. Magnus Pym, Counsellor at the British Embassy, is hosting a dinner party at his home in Vienna when he receives an unexpected telephone call that will profoundly affect his life. Once the guests have gone, Pym breaks the news to his wife, Mary: his father, Rick, is dead. In a state of shock, he says something Mary cannot understand - 'After all these years, I'm free.' Magnus flies back to England to attend the funeral - and doesn't return. As Mary and MI6 spymaster Jack Brotherhood desperately try to find out his whereabouts, it soon becomes clear that Pym has been keeping secrets from both his family and his employers, the British Intelligence Service. Hiding out in a remote cottage in Devon, where he goes by the name of Mr Canterbury, Magnus begins to write his memoirs - retracing his rise and fall and revealing how Rick led him step by step into a double life of deception, broken promises and betrayal... Adapted from the John le Carré novel by Rene Basilico.
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What listeners say about A Perfect Spy (Dramatised)
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Stephen Bentley
- 27-10-23
Relentlessly Average
Said to be Le Carre's best novel. I disagree, for me the best one is probably "Call for the Dead" - the benefit of economy. This novel does not come out well, the performances are very good and rise above the (to me) mediocre source material which is baggy and self indulgent. We are supposed to feel sorry for the eponymous anti hero and admire/despise the upper crust of spy masters. I find the relentless demand for sympathy off putting - Smiley for me. Making a mess in the bathroom, how banal, as a plot device so sordidly predictable. Which is presumably the point, pathos or bathos? The dividing line is thin and to my mind this novel crosses it.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story2 out of 5 stars
- Trax UK
- 30-11-18
Tediously boring listen
I’ve listened to the end of part 4 expecting it to pick up - I can’t realistically listen any more. If this is the ‘dramatised’ version I just can’t imagine what the undramatised would be like. Does adapting a novel for radio involve sucking the life out of a story?
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3 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Buddhasamagama
- 30-08-21
an absolute joy
just lovely. I can so become lost in John le Carre's world. thank you, you lovely, decent man for creating it
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- JACQUI
- 27-11-18
listen listen listen
loved it. couldn't stop listening to it till it ended. kept me engulfed on my long journeys
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- TonyP
- 08-04-19
An excellent production with some technical issues
This was an excellent production with some very good performances all round. The only criticism I have is that there is some sound bleed from the original source. There seems to be an echo in the background on some scenes, which was slightly distracting.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Henry
- 28-01-20
Excellent enjoyed enormously
Keeps you griped and wanting to listen to next chapter.highly recommend .only negative is that it is rather short.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- darkrev
- 27-12-18
old classic
Old classic, great to hear again without having to wrestle a doorstep book in the bath. Still enjoyable.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
- Padraig
- 01-04-15
Great Production.
It was a great production. All the actors were great especially James Fox and Julian Rhind Tutt. Very much recommend it.
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7 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Mr. L. M. D. Pelosi
- 29-09-18
Really evokes the mood of the Carre classic
Very well edited with a very talented cast. A great way to enjoy the novel
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4 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Banjoman
- 10-09-18
Brilliant adaptation.
A brilliant adaptation of the book by the BBC. First class performances of the characters and the times. As with many John le Carre books, the ending is not always what you think it's going to be. Occasionally, I find the ending unsatisfactory....
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3 people found this helpful