Call for the Dead

John Le Carrй’s novel, The Call for the Dead, begins with a wordy introduction into the past and present life of the main character George Smiley. The introduction starts by explaining George Smiley’s marriage to Lady Ann Sercomb, who left him for a Cuban racecar driver during the war. The introduction then moves into details about George Smiley’s professional life. Le Carrй then goes on to explain that George Smiley’s tutor, Jebedee, recruited him to join a Secret Foreign office organization led by chairman Steed-Asprey. After everyone had died or moved on the only ones left were the career man, Maston, and Smiley himself named the Minister’s Adviser on Intelligence or the Head Eunuch. This prologue ends with the image of George Smiley sitting comfortably in a taxi, on the 4th of January, at 2 o’clock in the morning, on his way to Cambridge Circus. George Smiley then receives a call from Maston with urgent news that Samuel Fennan, a man who Smiley had interviewed under suspicion of communist activity, had committed suicide. Maston said that there was a suicide note claiming that Fennan had been distraught over the interview and the possible consequences that he faced. Smiley assures Maston that the interview was quite amiable and informal. Smiley said that the two took a stroll through the park and finished up at a local cafй, and at the end of the interview Smiley had assured Fennan that the matter would be dropped and he would be cleared of all suspicion. This arouses speculation and a fervent need for investigation on the part of George Smiley. Smiley travels to see the widow of Samuel Fennan, Elsa Fennan, who was a concentration camp survivor. He questioned her about her husband and his reaction to the interview. Elsa claimed Samuel was very upset over the interview, which left Smiley further puzzled. Smiley also questions Elsa about her whereabouts the night of the suicide but she seems to have a full proof alibi of attending a play at the local theatre of which she is a club member. Smiley then hears the phone ring and goes upstairs to answer it thinking that the call is for him. On the other line is the exchange office calling for a requested 8:30 call. Smiley thinks nothing of this until later that day and returns to the Fennan household to question Elsa further. It is at this time that Elsa lies about the call and claims that she must have made it and forgot. Smiley seeks the assistance of his soon-to-retire police officer friend, Mendel. They personally call the exchange and find out that the voice could not have been Elsa’s but was instead most surely Samuel’s. When Smiley returns home he sees a man in his window so he slowly proceeds upstairs and rang the front door bell. A man answers the door so Smiley comes up with a quick excuse and leaves. He takes down all the license plate numbers of all the cars on his street and cross checks them. They discover the name of Adam Scarr, a small garage proprietor who runs small time crook deals. They visit this garage and find out that Scarr was contracted by a Scotsman to rent his car. That night Smiley