Call For The Dead.

LE CARRE, John.

Item Number: 2345

London: Gollancz, 1961.

First edition of the author’s first book, which introduced the world to the recurring protagonist, George Smiley. Octavo, original red cloth. Signed by the author on the title page. A tiny name on the front free endpaper, else fine in a near fine dust jacket that has a small closed tear. Housed in a quarter morocco custom clamshell box. A very sharp copy.

Call for The Dead introduces George Smiley, probably the greatest figure in all of spy fiction. The New York Times praised the novel as "[a] subtle and acute story of counter-espionage marked by restraint, indirection, and intelligence." The book was adapted into a film entitled The Deadly Affair directed by Sidney Lumet starring James Mason as Smiley. The film received five BAFTA Awards nominations, including Best British Film and Best British Actor.