John le Carré: Cold War novelist dies aged 89 (1 Viewer)

[Guest]

[h=1]Just saw on the BBC that John le Carré: Cold War novelist died, aged 89, today. Great writer.[/h]

 

[The Military Workshop]

Just saw on the BBC that John le Carré: Cold War novelist died, aged 89, today. Great writer.

Beat me to it ! See my thread in Chat lounge.

 

[jazzeum]

This is a very upsetting, terrible loss. His books were stunning, not so much about spying but about human relations. His best well known books were Tinker, Tailor and Smiley’s People, which I have read two or three times. His big break came with The Spy Who Came in From the Cold, which broke the mold on how spies until that time (James Bond and progeny) had been portrayed. Some of his lesser books were very good too. A Small Town in Germany comes to mind as does The Looking Glass War. A Small Town came out after Spy and wasn’t well received at the time but has come to be appreciated in intervening years.

For those who haven’t read him but might be interested in trying, I recommend The Spy Who Came in From the Cold. The movie with Richard Burton closely follows the book so if you liked the movie you might look the book. I also recommend the BBC series of Tinker, Tailor, not the movie (which isn’t very good) but the six hour series made in 1980. Unfortunately, it’s not on Amazon but on Acorn TV.

RIP Mr. Cornwell (the nom de plume of le Carre).

 

[jazzeum]

Obituary in The New York Times.

John le Carre, Best-Selling Author of Cold War Thrillers, Dies at 89.

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/13/...tion=click&module=Top Stories&pgtype=Homepage

 

[jazzeum]

This is a review of Tinker Tailor that some might find useful and illuminating.

The Spy who Spied on Spies

https://www.nytimes.com/1974/06/30/...the-spy-who-spied-on-spies.html?smid=tw-share

 

[jazzeum]

Review published in 2016 of his memoir (of sorts), The Pigeon Tunnel.

Review: Le Carre, the Con Man’s Son: Writer, Liar, Survivor, Spy

https://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/02/...om-my-life.html#click=https://t.co/3TeDnEtwDt

 

[jazzeum]

An article by him about his difficult boyhood.

In Ronnie’s Court: A Son’s Criminal Pursuit

https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2002/02/18/in-ronnies-court

 

[jazzeum]

This is another good article, from seven years ago.

John le Carre Has Not Mellowed With Age

https://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/21/magazine/john-le-carre-has-not-mellowed-with-age.html

 

[uksubs]

Just saw on the BBC that John le Carré: Cold War novelist died, aged 89, today. Great writer.

Very sad news

 

[Guest]

Beat me to it ! See my thread in Chat lounge.

Better to get it twice than not at all, i was sat at home and it came up on the BBC website. I enjoyed his books, along with Deighton he was one of my favourites.

 

[Terp152]

This is a very upsetting, terrible loss. His books were stunning, not so much about spying but about human relations. His best well known books were Tinker, Tailor and Smiley’s People, which I have read two or three times. His big break came with The Spy Who Came in From the Cold, which broke the mold on how spies until that time (James Bond and progeny) had been portrayed. Some of his lesser books were very good too. A Small Town in Germany comes to mind as does The Looking Glass War. A Small Town came out after Spy and wasn’t well received at the time but has come to be appreciated in intervening years.

For those who haven’t read him but might be interested in trying, I recommend The Spy Who Came in From the Cold. The movie with Richard Burton closely follows the book so if you liked the movie you might look the book. I also recommend the BBC series of Tinker, Tailor, not the movie (which isn’t very good) but the six hour series made in 1980. Unfortunately, it’s not on Amazon but on Acorn TV.

RIP Mr. Cornwell (the nom de plume of le Carre).

Quite agree Brad, Soldier, Sailor was his best book (and trilogy) IMO and the BBC series with Sir Alec was a superb portrayal. Likewise both The Spy novel and movie were outstanding. Also enjoyed Small Town and think his best works were Cold War era, not so much the later books (Night Manager the exception). Chris