The Honorable Schoolboy (1977) is really a sequel to Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy. After the discovery of a double agent among the top ranks of the British Intelligence, the Circus needs reorganization and reinvigoration. Once again Smiley's retirement is delayed as he recovers the home forces shattered by the presence of the "mole" in the preceding work. He sets off in pursuit of Karla who masterminded the deception in Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy.

Le Carre chooses as his territory the Far East: Hong Kong, Cambodia, Vietnam, a contemporary topic because of the evanescence of Western power, and the almost perpetual conflict in Thailand and the former Indochina. Smiley, who has finally left his unfaithful wife Ann, directs the operations from London, sending his faithful agent Jerry Westerby to manage the plot.

Jerry appeared briefly in Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy as an East Asian expert. He is a...