One of the finest spy trilogies of all time, John Le Carre's The Quest for Karla trilogy is a thriller set during the Cold War. It deals with British Intelligence officer George Smiley and his long battle with Russian spymaster Karla. Dealing with betrayal, love and the often mundane nature of spying, it asks awkward and painful questions about keeping secrets from your friends, lovers and indeed yourself. The series consists of three books published between 1974 and 1979. These are: 1. * Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy 2. * The Honourable Schoolboy 3. * Smiley's People