Ten of the best pairs of glasses in literature

For the Guardian, John Mullan named ten of the best pairs of glasses in literature.

One novel on the list:

Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy by John le Carré

Contrary to expectations born of Alec Guinness's wonderful embodiment, the master spy George Smiley of Le Carré's novels is a short, fat man in ill-chosen clothes. One feature, however, is constant in both books and TV adaptations: his thick glasses. He has a habit of cleaning these with the thick end of his tie, a habitual prelude to some laser-like interrogative.

Read about another pair of glasses on Mullan's list.

Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy is one of Stella Rimington's six best books; Peter Millar includes it among John le Carré's best books.

--Marshal Zeringue