TV series · 1979 · BBC Two
Is Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy based on a book?
Quick answer
Yes. Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is based on the book Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy by John le Carré (1974).
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is book 5 of the George Smiley series series.
The TV series premiered in 1979 on BBC Two.
The book behind Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
by John le Carré · first published 1974 · spy fiction
1974 novel by John le Carré.
George Smiley series: books in order
- Call for the Dead (1961)
- A Murder of Quality (1962)
- The Spy Who Came in from the Cold (1963)
- The Looking Glass War (1969)
- Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (1974)
- The Honourable Schoolboy (1977)
- Smiley's People (1979)
- The Secret Pilgrim (1990)
Other adaptations of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
- Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (film, 2011)
Common questions
Is Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy based on a book?
Yes. Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is based on the book Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy by John le Carré (1974).
Who wrote the book Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is based on?
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy was written by John le Carré and first published in 1974.
Is Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy part of a series?
Yes, it is book 5 in the George Smiley series series (2 books listed below in reading order).
Should I read the book before watching?
Start with Call for the Dead, book 1 of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. If you like knowing the full story and characters first, read it before you watch. Adaptations often change or cut plotlines, so the book is a different experience even if you've seen the TV series.
More screen adaptations of John le Carré's books
- The Constant Gardener (film, 2005)
- The Spy Who Came in from the Cold (film, 1965)
- The Russia House (film, 1990)
- A Most Wanted Man (film, 2014)