THE TAILOR OF PANAMA

The many and various talents of le Carré give this new audio version of his 1996 novel more than enough reasons for approval. Most obvious is the fact that he is a wonderful reader—a natural, honest storyteller and artful actor who can command our attention and hold it long after others might lose their grip. In just a few minutes, he brings to life a large gallery of diverse characters: an upper-class narrator; a British tailor, Harry Pendel, who can't quite hide his East End Jewish, ex-convict roots; his American wife, Louisa, who pulses with do-gooder zeal; a Panamanian soldier whose English is limited to one phrase; a Panamanian banker who oozes hypocrisy; the Cockney ghost of Harry's crooked old uncle; and a rather nasty working-class British spy who threatens to upset Harry's delicately balanced life. Le Carré's superb reading skills also enable listeners to stop and sniff the prose—to realize just how good a writer he really is. Based on the Knopf hardcover. (Feb.)