In Memory of John le Carré
John le Carré (1931-2020) has been called a master of the spy novel. He's well known for The Spy Who Came in from the Cold (1963), Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy (1974), and nearly two dozen other books. His final title was published in 2019. Before le Carré burst onto the literary scene, popular spy novels painted a picture of glamour, sex and tech (think James Bond). In those adventures, it was easy to tell the good guys from the bad. Le Carré portrayed spies as flawed men and brought sensitivity, humanity and a gritty realism to their stories. Le Carre wrote from his personal experience as a real-life spy. He was still serving with British Intelligence when he wrote his first three novels under a pen name, as requested by his employer. He became an overnight bestseller with The Spy Who Came in from the Cold. After his identity was revealed by a British newspaper, he quit undercover work to write full time. Many of le Carre’s novels have been adapted into movies. On screen or on the page, le Carre made an impact, and left a legacy of thought-provoking literature. loading...
