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The Russia House
- Narrated by: Michael Jayston
- Length: 13 hrs and 53 mins
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The Russia House
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Summary
It is the third summer of perestroika. Niki Landau, philanderer and travelling rep, attends the first Moscow audio fair and is asked by beautiful young Katya to take a parcel back to England.
It’s addressed to Barley Blair, jazz-player and drinker, and contains information vital to the defence of the West. But times and heroes are changing. And Barley Blair is a man who makes his own rules of engagement.
What listeners say about The Russia House
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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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
- Raven Mad
- 10-01-19
CONSUMMATE
John Le Carré at his very best. Beautifully read by Michael Jayston. Had me so entranced I missed my turning from the motorway!
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1 person 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
- Amazon Customer
- 10-12-19
Complex, but a great listen
Great narration as always and a complex story. Interesting, and beautifully written. Very much worth a credit.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- MR DAVID I SUTTON
- 18-01-18
Well read in a strong believable voice.
The ending is different to the film adaptation, which I believe is better because your mind makes its own predictions of the outcome, which I'm finding aren't quite as nice.
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12 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
- Clifford Thurlow
- 27-12-19
Love and Espionage
Exquisite writing and cleverly cloaking a love story behind the smoke and mirrors of the spying game.
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Jane S.
- 28-07-23
Not his best
But a good story of spying and human frailty which I suppose are his strengths
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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
- Chrissy
- 15-09-21
I listened but nearly gave up.
Lots of people have loved this book but was Le Carre told he had to write this many words? The basic storyline could have been thrilling but just became tedious to listen to. I’m aware that “spying is waiting” but this was drawn out way too much for me. It had some interesting moments, hence three stars but I wanted the characters to shine a bit more and they just didn’t for me. I couldn’t decide whether to like Barley or not; he was just tiresome. Having said that, credit for the end as I didn’t think it would happen like that. Just not a story for me, sadly.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story2 out of 5 stars
- David K.
- 16-12-20
For completists only; not one of le Carré's best
I am a huge John le Carré fan but had somehow not got round to reading or listening to The Russia House and now I almost wish I hadn't. The author is so very, very good at his best but this mundane affair was nowhere near the same league as the Smiley books.
At its core is a tale revolving around the biggest of dramas; the nuclear stand-off between power blocs and the dark pantomime which it requires. Fear, uncertainty and doubt of one's own side, let alone the enemy's, make every action as futile as it is vital.
But this is all seen through the lens of a central character who, the reader is constantly told, is a fascinating, flawed man but who comes across as merely tiresome. Not dissimilar in that regard to the protagonist in The Honourable Schoolboy.The romance, such as it is, creaks rather than convinces. Barley bores rather than intrigues. Michael Jayston is a supreme narrator but even he seems to have found progress tiresome and it occasionally results in a threadbare performance, which I have never encountered from him before. By the time the story stumbled its way to the end, he sounded as unexcited by it as I was.
I'm in a minority here; and happy to be so if it means that most people seem to have loved this book. But for me it will be the only time I give it a listen.
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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
- Jack Keenan
- 10-05-23
Masterful !
A masterpiece of story telling. Thoroughly enjoyable read. John Le Carre always grips you tightly
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Mr. S. Burgess
- 20-02-20
Slightly dull Le Carre
On balance Le Carre often places individual conflict in the centre of espionage stories and spycraft. Sometimes the dial is a little too far over towards the personal turmoil and the wider story doesn't quite grip. I think thats the case with the Russia House for me - no great hooks amongst the characters on the outside of the emotional conflict at the heart of the story.
Top Marks for Michael Jayston, however, as I really enjoy his dry/wry delivery - perfect for Le Carre's anti heroes.
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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
- s gilst
- 27-02-21
Riviting audio book
Great story, great story telling. The narrator has a wonderful voice which unfortunately at times dipped so I couldn't make out what he said otherwise great.
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