Audio CD
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio; Abridged edition (January 1, 2001)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0743551842
ISBN-13: 978-0743551847
Product Dimensions: 5.9 x 5.3 x 1 inches
Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (286 customer reviews)
Best Sellers Rank: #4,197,550 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #36 in Books > Books on CD > Authors, A-Z > ( L ) > Le Carre, John #8688 in Books > Books on CD > General #14768 in Books > Mystery, Thriller & Suspense > Thrillers & Suspense > Spies & Politics > Espionage
Having been a long time reader of John Le Carre's often bitter ironic take on the life of Britain's intelligence community, I looked forward to reading The Constant Gardener, as it promised to be a departure from his usual cloak and dagger novels. It exceeded my expectations in ways I did not anticipate.The Constant Gardener at its heart is a love story. Justin Quayle, a minor British diplomat, is stationed in Africa, rumored to be his last posting. He has met and married a younger woman, Tessa, the subject of much gleeful and often malicious speculation amongst the diplomatic community.The story opens with the horrific news that bodies have been found by Lake Turkana and are believed to be those of Tessa and her driver. The other occupant, a much beloved man by the name of Dr. Arnold Bluhm, an African civil rights activist, long rumored to be Tessa''s lover, is missing.As the tale unfolds, myriad people who knew Tessa, some loving her, others despising her youth and high ideals, struggle to cope with her loss, and their own hidden fears. Many hold Justin Quayle in semi-contempt as an overfond and doting fool, more involved in his plants, than keeping a rein on his young headstrong wife.The writing is taut and exquisite, as carefully, Le Carre exposes the reality behind the masks worn by so many of the people around Tessa. Tessa herself, using both recollection and the reflections of Justin Quayle, begins to emerge as something much greater than anyone ever gave her credit for being.Justin, trying to deal with the huge emotional wound his wife's death opened, begins on his own, to investigate just what Tessa had gotten herself involved in. He finds finally, something more precious, more valuable than he could ever imagine.
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