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A Small Town in Germany

By: John le Carré
Narrated by: Michael Jayston
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Summary

The British Embassy in Bonn is up in arms. Her Majesty's financially troubled government is seeking admission to Europe's Common Market just as anti-British factions are rising to power in Germany. Rioters are demanding reunification, and the last thing the Crown can afford is a scandal. Then Leo Harting - an embassy nobody - goes missing with a case full of confidential files. London sends Alan Turner to control the damage, but he soon realises that neither side really wants Leo found - alive.

©1968 le Carré Productions (P)2014 Bolinda Publishing Pty Ltd
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Critic reviews

"Exciting, compulsively readable and brilliantly plotted." ( The New York Times)
"Brilliant, unforgettable ... a masterpiece." ( New Statesman)

What listeners say about A Small Town in Germany

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The master

Another great book from the master storyteller and emotion twister. Perfect narration with 1st. class narration.

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5 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Very unsatisfying ending

This was a good book, with great characters with a good story but a very unsatisfying ending

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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Subtle depiction of characters and time.

Really enjoyed this. Clever descriptions of the characters but more than that it made me want to know more about late 60s politics and post war Germany.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Do persevere - worth the investment

Slow and directionless start but builds and builds. Don't be put off and do persevere - highly rewarding.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

okay

john Le Carre tells a good tale, but this is not his best. The end is, as often with Le Carre, disappointing as it Peters out.
Michael Jayson reads brilliantly as ever.

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11 people found this helpful

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interesting

an interesting view of Britain's struggle to join the EEC, just as a bunch of snake oil salesman force us out.

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2 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Complex and intriguing tale of post WW2 politics

This long and winding story is, as usual with John le Carre books, like peeling an onion with layers and layers of intrigue and hidden relationships and issues. As we watch the news about various incidents which can't be totally explained (right now the poisoning of the Skripals), you can't help but wonder what we don't know and wish that there was a John le Carre type person who could explain it so that it makes some sort of sense. People who like straight forward whodunnits and simple news bites will probably not like this book but for me he is the best in this genre. Michael Jayston is the perfect narrator for Le Carre.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Hard to listen to

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

Not really

If you’ve listened to books by John le Carré before, how does this one compare?

Badly. Others are better!

What aspect of Michael Jayston’s performance might you have changed?

He needs to help the listener hear the jumps between topics. I think it was a difficult book to narrate.

Any additional comments?

I don't think this one works well as an audio book

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11 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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A break from Smiley

Thoroughly enjoyed this book. Michael Jayson gets the tone just right as always with his Le Carré narrations.
Turner is not an easy main character but I think that’s the point. I loved his stream of consciousness chapter in the middle, reminded me of Joyce.
Great stuff.

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1 person found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Brilliant and Brilliant

This is Spying as only can be told by a great MASTER. I give it 10 out of 10. Beautiful and brilliantly.

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