The le Carré Cast - A podcast on John le Carré novels: Recent Episodes
The le Carre Cast
Exploring the works of John le Carré, each episode looks at a specific novel or an unexplored aspect of his life and work. Join us as we take a deep dive into the world of espionage John le Carré has revealed.
In this episode we continue our look at John le Carré’s 1977 novel, The Honourable Schoolboy. Find Part 1 here.
Writer Paul French returns to the show to share his extensive knowledge of China and Hong Kong.
We talk about the political background surrounding China and the UK when THS was written, the Ko brothers, and ponder Lizzie Worthington. Plus what’s the deal with Jerry Westerby?
All that and much more in this episode.
Paul’s Website – https://paulfrench.substack.com/
Paul’s article on le Carré – https://thechinaproject.com/2021/02/05/what-a-john-le-carre-novel-can-teach-about-china/
Paul’s new’s book Her Lotus Year – https://read.macmillan.com/lp/her-lotus-year/
Paul’s breakout hit Midnight in Peking – https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/242223/paul-french/
Paul’s Twitter – https://x.com/chinarhyming
Jeff’s site – SpyWrite.com
Jeff’s twitter – @spywrite
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In this episode we begin our look at John le Carré’s 1977 novel, The Honourable Schoolboy.
I’m pleased to welcome writer Paul French to the show. Paul has extensive knowledge of China and Hong Kong and is the perfect person to discuss this particular novel.
We talk about where le Carré got his ideas for the opening scene of the novel, the politics of the time and some F.I.L.T.H. Plus the Hong Kong foreign correspondents club’s urinal?
All that and much more in this episode.
Paul’s Website – https://paulfrench.substack.com/
Paul’s article on le Carré – https://thechinaproject.com/2021/02/05/what-a-john-le-carre-novel-can-teach-about-china/
Paul’s new’s book Her Lotus Year – https://read.macmillan.com/lp/her-lotus-year/
Paul’s breakout hit Midnight in Peking – https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/242223/paul-french/
Paul’s Twitter – https://x.com/chinarhyming
Jeff’s site – SpyWrite.com
Jeff’s twitter – @spywrite
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Part 1 can be found here. Part 2 can be found here.
We delve into the fascinating life of the enigmatic author Sarah Gainham, also known as Rachel Ames, with her godson Jonathan Ray, a drinks editor for The Spectator. We explore Rachel’s mysterious persona, her connections with spies and diplomats, and her life as an author.
Jonathan shares stories about Rachel’s life in Vienna, her eccentric habits like stealing cats and smoking incessantly, and her love for Austrian wine. They also discuss her friendships with notable figures like Ian Fleming and John le Carré, her failed romantic relationships, and her significant yet largely forgotten contributions to spy fiction. Plus some stories of Jonathan’s war correspondent father, Cyril Ray.
All that and more in this episode!
The Estate of Sarah Gainham’s agent – https://greeneheaton.co.uk/clients/the-estate-of-sarah-gainham
Vienna’s Beer Clinic – http://www.goesser-bierklinik.at/en/
The Third Man Museum – https://www.3mpc.net/englsamml.htm
Grüner Veltliner – https://www.austrianwine.com/our-wine/grape-varieties/white-wine/gruener-veltliner
Jonathan’s article on The Third Man – https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/the-third-man-fans-guide-to-vienna/
Jonathan’s other writing at The Spectator – https://www.spectator.co.uk/writer/jonathan-ray/
Jonathan’s book – That’s the Spirit!
Jeff’s site – SpyWrite.com
Jeff’s twitter – @spywrite
The le Carré Cast on Twitter – @lecarrécast
00:48 Introducing Jonathan Ray
01:19 Rachel Ames: The Godmother
02:30 Early Life and Connections
04:37 Life in Vienna
05:59 Rachel’s Personality and Habits
09:38 Literary and Personal Legacy
24:37 Cold War Experiences
27:36 The Forgotten Fame of Rachel
28:33 Vienna and The Third Man
30:11 Rachel’s Love and Loneliness
34:16 Rachel’s Eccentricities and Memories
41:47 The Legacy of Rachel’s Novels
47:33 Preserving Rachel’s Archive
53:39 Final Thoughts and Farewell
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Part 1 can be found here.
We are back with part 2 of this look at the novelist Sarah Gainham. I continue to be joined in the discussion with writer Jeremy Duns.
The episode begins with a recounting of a passage from ‘The Stone Roses,’ one of Gainham’s novels. We then discuss several of Gainham’s works, including ‘Time Right Deadly,’ ‘The Cold Dark Night,’ and ‘The Silent Hostage,’ exploring themes like politics, espionage, and deep human character studies.
We also have an upcoming interview with Jonathan Ray, Gainham’s godson, to gain more insights into the author’s life and inspirations.
All that and more in this episode.
01:41 Exploring Sarah Gainham’s Novels
02:05 Time Right Deadly: A Deep Dive
05:57 The Myth Maker: Kit Quest’s Adventure
11:37 The Stone Roses: A Recognizable Title
16:23 The Cold Dark Night: Berlin’s Espionage
25:25 Silent Hostage: Romance and Espionage 3
0:54 Ranking Sarah Gainham’s Novels
33:44 Upcoming Interview with Jonathan Ray
35:15 Closing Remarks and Other Podcasts
Title Fight! The Good, the Bad and Ugly of Spy Book Titles with Jeremy Duns and Jeff Quest. (102)
Jeremy’s twitter – @JeremyDuns
Jeremy’s Website – Jeremy-Duns.com
Jeff’s site – SpyWrite.com
Jeff’s twitter – @spywrite
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Discovering Sarah Gainham: Unveiling the Overlooked Cold War Novelist
In this episode of the le Carré Cast, we introduce a new feature – ‘After le Carré,’ spotlighting authors beyond John le Carré. Jeff welcomes back Jeremy Duns, writer and spy fiction enthusiast, to discuss Sarah Gainham, a lesser-known but richly talented spy novelist. They delve into the essential elements of le Carré’s works, Gainham’s life and career, and especially her novel The Tiger, Life.
The discussion explores Gainham’s intricate plotting, authentic depictions of Cold War espionage, and her personal experiences that shaped her stories. The episode wraps up with intriguing insights into the realities of spy life and the dynamic between Gainham and her contemporaries.
All that and more in this episode.
00:00 Welcome to the le Carré Cast
00:38 Introducing ‘After le Carré’
00:48 Guest Introduction: Jeremy Duns
01:01 Defining a le Carré Novel
03:21 Spotlight on Sarah Gainham
06:24 Sarah Gainham’s Life and Career
09:30 Exploring Gainham’s Spy Novels
16:22 The Tiger, Life: Gainham’s Masterpiece
23:41 Debating Book Titles and Their Impact
26:33 Exploring the Novel’s Setting and Characters
28:23 Autobiographical Elements and Espionage
30:02 Complex Relationships and Character Analysis
39:38 Real-Life Inspirations and Historical Context
44:29 Conclusion and Upcoming Episodes
Title Fight! The Good, the Bad and Ugly of Spy Book Titles with Jeremy Duns and Jeff Quest. (102)
Jeremy’s twitter – @JeremyDuns
Jeremy’s Website – Jeremy-Duns.com
Jeff’s site – SpyWrite.com
Jeff’s twitter – @spywrite
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In this episode of The le Carré Cast, I interview acclaimed playwright and screenwriter Shaun McKenna. Sean discusses his journey into writing, his collaboration process for bringing le Carré’s complex characters to life on BBC Radio 4, and the challenges of adapting intricate novels for audio. about his adaptation of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy and The Looking Glass War while highlighting Shaun’s eclectic career, including his involvement in the ‘Lord of the Rings’ musical. Sean also shares insights on the enduring appeal of audio drama in the UK and his current and upcoming projects.
Our previous look at The Smiley Radio Dramas can be found here –
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
00:46 Meet Shaun McKenna: The Adaptation Maestro
02:37 Shaun’s Journey into Audio Drama
04:13 The Smiley Radio Dramas: A Deep Dive
06:13 Challenges and Triumphs in Adaptation
08:39 The Art of Radio Drama
16:06 Capturing the Essence of le Carré
23:56 The Joys and Challenges of Radio Drama
26:11 The Decline of Radio Drama in the UK
28:48 A Writer’s Journey: From Actor to Adaptation Specialist
33:12 The Legacy of John le Carré’s Smiley Series
38:56 Reviving The Lord of the Rings Musical
41:20 Upcoming Projects and Final Thoughts
Shaun McKenna’s Website – ShaunMcKenna.me
The Lord of the Rings World Tour
The Lord of the Rings in Chicago
The Forsyte Saga
Homefront Radio Drama
Jeff’s site – SpyWrite.com
Jeff’s twitter – @spywrite
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In this episode we continue our look at John le Carré’s 2008 novel, A Most Wanted Man.
I’m pleased to welcome back poet Clarissa Aykroyd to the show.
If you missed Part 1, you can find it here.
We talk about parallels between the novel’s characters and another famous spy duo, Jackson Lamb and Catherine Standish from Mick Herron’s ‘Slough House’ series. The conversation highlights the novel’s exploration of complex characters, long-term espionage strategies, and critiques of American actions post-9/11. We also discuss the film adaptation’s strengths and weaknesses, particularly praising its ending and Hoffman’s portrayal of the main character. Additionally, we speculate about a new TV adaptation of the novel for German television and its potential impact. The episode closes with a personal anecdote from Clarissa related to the novel.
All that and more in this episode.
Ernst Barlach Haus, the museum Clarissa mentioned from the book – https://www.barlach-haus.de/
Clarissa’s Website – https://thestoneandthestar.blogspot.com/
Clarissa’s Twitter – https://x.com/stoneandthestar
Jeff’s site – SpyWrite.com
Jeff’s twitter – @spywrite
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In this episode we look at John le Carré’s 2008 novel, A Most Wanted Man.
I’m pleased to welcome poet Clarissa Aykroyd to the show.
We talk through the motivations of the various players, whether le Carré succeeded at creating fully realized characters and le Carré’s difficult writing women.
All that and more in this episode.
Clarissa’s Website – https://thestoneandthestar.blogspot.com/
Clarissa’s Twitter – https://x.com/stoneandthestar
Jeff’s site – SpyWrite.com
Jeff’s twitter – @spywrite
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In this episode of the Le Carré Cast, Jeff interviews British historian Dominic Sandbrook. They delve into Sandbrook’s introduction to John le Carré’s works, particularly Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, and discuss the author’s literary impact and historical context. The conversation covers le Carré’s influence during Britain’s 1970s cultural and political landscape, along with Sandbrook’s personal exploration and critique of le Carré’s novels.
The episode also highlights Harold Wilson and Smiley, le Carré and Margaret Thatcher, and just how much should we know about our literary heroes.
Plus, a le Carré Assassin’s Creed and Star Wars’ Andor?
- 00:00 Introduction to the le Carré Cast
- 01:16 Dominic’s First Encounter with le Carré
- 02:49 The Impact of Le Carré’s Works
- 05:10 The 50th Anniversary of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
- 13:38 Harold Wilson and George Smiley: A Comparison
- 17:49 The Dark Mood of 1970s Britain
- 20:54 Le Carré’s Literary Mastery
- 26:30 Critique of Le Carré’s Writing Style
- 28:16 Le Carré and Margaret Thatcher: An Unlikely Admiration
- 30:07 The Complexity of Le Carré’s Political Views
- 31:09 Balancing Biography and Privacy
- 34:59 Le Carré’s Literary Legacy
- 36:27 Le Carré in Popular Culture
- 39:45 The Future of Le Carré’s Works
42:10 Lightning Round: Assassin’s Creed and Andor - 45:40 Closing Remarks and Podcast Recommendations
Dominic’s website – https://dominicsandbrook.com/
Dominic’s Twitter – https://x.com/dcsandbrook
The Rest is History club – https://therestishistory.supportingcast.fm/
Jeff’s site – SpyWrite.com
Jeff’s twitter – @spywrite
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I’m excited to welcome back Mac Rogers, playwright and audio dramatist for the epic conclusion of our look at the BBC George Smiley radio dramas.
In this third and final part we dig into The Honourable Schoolboy, Smiley’s People and The Secret Pilgrim.
The best way to find a corpse, how stories differ when told by a master spy versus a mediocre spy, and if any radio producers are listening, Mac is waiting by the phone to adapt Legacy of Spies.
All that and more in this episode.
Mac’s website – https://www.macrogers.org/
Mac’s Twitter – https://twitter.com/macwrites
Gideon Media, the audio production company Mac is a part of – https://www.gideon-media.com/
Life/After – https://www.goldhawkproductions.com/lifeafter
The movie First Time Caller – https://tubitv.com/movies/100014730/first-time-caller
The George Smiley Audio Dramas on the BBC – https://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/features/smiley-season/
On Audible – https://www.audible.com/pd/The-Complete-George-Smiley-Radio-Dramas-Audiobook/B01DE1KAYC
Jeff’s site – SpyWrite.com
Jeff’s twitter – @spywrite
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I’m excited to welcome back Mac Rogers, playwright and audio dramatist to continue to discuss the BBC George Smiley radio dramas.
In this second of three parts we dig into some of the biggest of le Carré’s novels – The Spy Who Came in from the Cold and Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy. Plus we discuss The Lookingglass War.
We also talk the star power this audio series brought, Brian Cox as Alec Leamas pre-Succession, and the trickiness of adapting Tinker Tailor for an audio drama.
All that and more in this episode.
Mac’s website – https://www.macrogers.org/
Mac’s Twitter – https://twitter.com/macwrites
Gideon Media, the audio production company Mac is a part of – https://www.gideon-media.com/
Life/After – https://www.goldhawkproductions.com/lifeafter
The movie First Time Caller – https://tubitv.com/movies/100014730/first-time-caller
The George Smiley Audio Dramas on the BBC – https://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/features/smiley-season/
On Audible – https://www.audible.com/pd/The-Complete-George-Smiley-Radio-Dramas-Audiobook/B01DE1KAYC
Jeff’s site – SpyWrite.com
Jeff’s twitter – @spywrite
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This episode I am pleased to welcome Mac Rogers, playwright and audio dramatist to discuss the BBC George Smiley radio dramas.
In this first part we talk about Mac’s journey to writing for audio, reading le Carré and listening to the audio drams. Plus we dive into aspects of the audio format and the first two Smiley adaptations.
Plus, we touch on Doctor Who, love of Simon Russell Beale, UK and US differences regarding audio and the masterstroke that adapters Robert Forrest and Shaun McKenna came up with for the Smiley audio dramas.
All that and more in this episode.
Mac’s website – https://www.macrogers.org/
Mac’s Twitter – https://twitter.com/macwrites
Gideon Media, the audio production company Mac is a part of – https://www.gideon-media.com/
Life/After – https://www.goldhawkproductions.com/lifeafter
The movie First Time Caller – https://tubitv.com/movies/100014730/first-time-caller
The George Smiley Audio Dramas on the BBC – https://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/features/smiley-season/
On Audible – https://www.audible.com/pd/The-Complete-George-Smiley-Radio-Dramas-Audiobook/B01DE1KAYC
Jeff’s site – SpyWrite.com
Jeff’s twitter – @spywrite
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This episode I return with Phil Tinline and Bernard Hughes.
We continue discussing Phil’s article in the New Statesman on the London of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy by John le Carré and how it’s different from the London of today.
Topics include the le Carré and conspiracies, a discussion of Adam Sisman’s latest book, and plus writers that write well about London and what areas did le Carré miss?
Plus the current lack of smoke and dog poo in London. All that and more in this episode.
Phil’s article in The New Statesman, John Le Carré and the spectre of British decline – https://www.newstatesman.com/the-weekend-essay/2023/08/john-le-carre-spectre-british-decline
The Death of Consensus by Phil Tinline – https://www.hurstpublishers.com/book/the-death-of-consensus/
Phil’s BBC Radio documentary Conspiracies: The Secret Knowledge – https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000t034
Phil’s article on JFK and conspiracies – https://www.newstatesman.com/ideas/2023/11/jfk-assassination-60-years-myth-martyr-saviour
Phil’s twitter – https://twitter.com/phil_tinline
Bernard’s review of The Secret Life of John le Carré – https://theartsdesk.com/books/adam-sisman-secret-life-john-le-carr%C3%A9-review-tinker-tailor-soldier-cheat
Bernard Hughes website – https://www.bernardhughes.net/
Bernard’s album Bagetelles – https://listn.fm/bagatelleshughes/
Bernard’s latest album, Songs for our Times – https://divineartrecords.com/recording/songs-for-our-times/
Jeff’s site – SpyWrite.com
Jeff’s twitter – @spywrite
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This episode I’m excited to welcome Phil Tinline and Bernard Hughes to the show.
We discuss Phil’s article in the New Statesman on the London of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy by John le Carré and how it’s different from the London of today.
Topics include the political background of Tinker, whether Tinker was a case of perfect timing, how the echos of the 30’s reverberated in the 70’s and some quibbles with Richard Hutt’s placement of various locations in his le Carré map
All that and more in this episode.
Come back in two weeks for part two.
Phil’s article in The New Statesman, John Le Carré and the spectre of British decline – https://www.newstatesman.com/the-weekend-essay/2023/08/john-le-carre-spectre-british-decline
The Death of Consensus by Phil Tinline – https://www.hurstpublishers.com/book/the-death-of-consensus/
Bernard Hughes website – https://www.bernardhughes.net/
Bernard’s album Bagetelles – https://listn.fm/bagatelleshughes/
Bernard’s latest album, Songs for our Times – https://divineartrecords.com/recording/songs-for-our-times/
Jeff’s site – SpyWrite.com
Jeff’s twitter – @spywrite
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This episode I’m excited to welcome John le Carré’s biographer Adam Sisman to the show.
We discuss his latest book The Secret Life of John le Carré which looks at le Carré affairs which Sisman left out of his previous biography.
Topics include why Sisman felt he needed to write this new book, the push and pull between biographer and subject, le Carré and Bond, and Sisman’s affection for le Carré.
All that and more in this episode.
Come back in two weeks for our next episode.
Sisman’s lecture on le Carré’s anti-Americanism – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SSRMugt41xs&ab_channel=AmericanHistoricalAssociation
Buy The Secret Life of John le Carré –
US – https://www.harpercollins.com/products/the-secret-life-of-john-le-carre-adam-sisman?variant=41007957671970
UK – https://profilebooks.com/work/the-secret-life-of-john-le-carr/
The Professor and the Parson –
US – https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/675488/the-professor-and-the-parson-by-adam-sisman/
UK – https://profilebooks.com/work/the-professor-and-the-parson/
Boswell’s Presumptous Task – https://www.amazon.com/Boswells-Presumptuous-Task-Making-Johnson/dp/0142001759
The New Yorker Podcast on le Carré – https://www.newyorker.com/podcast/critics-at-large/spies-sex-and-john-le-carre
Jeff’s site – SpyWrite.com
Jeff’s twitter – @spywrite
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We continue our three part look at A Private Spy: The letters of John le Carré edited by Tim Cornwell. In part 3 we’ll be talking about what we learned about le Carré’s novels.
Returning to discuss the book is Guillam groupie, Matthew Bradford., we discuss le Carrê on James Bond, The Night Manager adapations, and Ludlum-esque title of The China Target.
Plus, Matthew makes his pitch to be the editor of an annotated release of le Carré’s film scripts! Le Carré estate, if you’re listening, I’ll get you his number.
All that and more in this episode.
Come back in two weeks for our next episode.
A list of Legacy libraries – https://www.librarything.com/legacylibraries
Matthew’s twitter – @doubleosection
Matthew’s Website – Double O Section
Jeff’s site – SpyWrite.com
Jeff’s twitter – @spywrite
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We continue our three part look at A Private Spy: The letters of John le Carré edited by Tim Cornwell. In part 2 we’ll be talking about what we learned about le Carré’s professional life.
Returning to discuss the book is Circus cognoscente, Matthew Bradford.
We discuss le Carré’s feudin’ and fightin’ with critics and friends, his input on cover art, and his love/hate relationship with film adaptions. Plus, why Silverview was terrible to release when written but the perfect posthumous novel!
All that and more in this episode.
Matthew’s twitter – @doubleosection
Matthew’s Website – Double O Section
Jeff’s site – SpyWrite.com
Jeff’s twitter – @spywrite
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We’ll be taking a three part look at A Private Spy: The letters of John le Carré edited by Tim Cornwell. In this episode we’ll be talking about what we learned about le Carré’s personal life.
Returning to the podcast to discuss the book is living le Carré encyclopedia Matthew Bradford.
We discuss whether the first letter in the book was the inspiration for Harry Potter, le Carré’s relationship with his step-mother, and his increased guardedness in letters later in life. Plus, the most “le Carré and his dogs” talk than has ever happened anywhere else before!
All that and more in this episode.
Come back in two weeks for our look at his professional life.
Matthew’s twitter – @doubleosection
Matthew’s Website – Double O Section
Jeff’s site – SpyWrite.com
Jeff’s twitter – @spywrite
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In this episode we continue our look at John le Carré’s 1999 novel, Single and Single. Returning to discuss the book is espionage and nonfiction author Adam Brookes. We discuss Adam’s interactions with shady Russians in the 90’s, why le Carré just can’t quit Russia, and that wild ending. Plus, is there such a thing […]
In this episode we look at John le Carré’s 1999 novel, SIngle and Single. Joining me to discuss the book is espionage and nonfiction author Adam Brookes. We discuss Adam’s first encounters with le Carré, the British boarding school system and tropes seen in le Carré’s female characters? Plus, whether the first chapter of the […]
Frank Sennett joins the show to talk about political thrillers and Mick Herron and John le Carré.
We talk about US versus UK spy novels, Matt Helm, and favorite Herron and le Carré novels. Plus we talk about how to write politics in fiction without alienating readers and how one author used the nuclear option to get their publisher to pay more.
Frank’s book Shadow State is out now.
Frank’s site – http://franksennett.com/
Shadow State – https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/717325/shadow-state-by-frank-sennett/
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We raised $1300 for Room to Read this holiday season. Thanks to everyone who donated. If you still wanted to donate, go here or share the link – http://tinyurl.com/spiesread
We are back with a interview with founder of Guillam Coffee and le Carré superfan Abdelrahman Fathalla. We talk about why he named his business after Peter Guillam, how he started reading le Carré’s novels and the amazing story of the time he met John le Carré.
All that plus why younger people should read le Carré, thoughts on the recent tv adaptations of his work and why Guillam Coffee should be your go-to London coffee shop.
Guillam Coffee on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/guillamcoffeehouse/
Guillam Coffee’s website – https://www.guillam.co.uk/
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Donate to Room to Read here or share the link – http://tinyurl.com/spiesread
We are back with a look at some of John le Carré’s unused book titles. These have been gathered from Adam Sisman’s biography, John le Carré: A Life, as well as a few from A Private Spy: The letters of John le Carré.
For more on spy book titles, listen to this episode of Spybrary where I speak with author Jeremy Duns on the difficulty of picking a book title – Title Fight! The good, the bad and the ugly of spy book titles.
See the list below –
A Clear Case of Suicide
The Carcass of the Lion
The Two-Stroke Lover
All My Life I Have Been Terrified of Ridicule
The Love Thief
The Death of Christopher Robin
The Reluctant Autumn of George Smiley
Operation Limberlost
The Twelfth Direction
The Pigeon Tunnel
The London Occasional
A Spy for Reasons of Politeness
The Giant Hunter
The Twice-Promised Girl
The Piper and the Tune
The Cage on the Roof
The Girl on the Casino Roof
Taking One All the Way Through
The Burn Box
A Man with Two Houses
A Spy with Excellent Manners
Plain Tales from the Circus
The Interrogators’ Poll
The Case Officer
The Silent Pilgrim
A Woman of Cairo
The Junior Leader
The Unknown Soldier
The Underground Soldier
The Last Clean Englishman
The Camel’s Nose
The Passion of his Time
The Road to Honeybrook Farm
A Man of the Caucasus
The Free Servant
The Siege of Heidelberg
Sasha’s Virtue
The Stay-Behind Man
Secret and Beyond
The Angry Gardener
Jeff’s site – SpyWrite.com
Jeff’s twitter – @spywrite
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Donate to Room to Read here or share the link – http://tinyurl.com/spiesread
We are back with a look at the new release A Private Spy: The Letters of John le Carré. I’m pleased to welcome Steven Ritterman, one of the foremost collectors of le Carré in the world, to the show.
Steven reveals his top five letters from the recently released book. We talk about the letters as well as a bit about what else the estate may end up releasing. All that and more in this episode!
Steven’s Top Five John le Carré Letters
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Le Carré’s letter to pharma execs following the release of The Constant Gardener.
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Le Carré’s letter to Tom Stoppard answering the question of just why he shelved his posthumously released novel Silverview.
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Le Carré’s letter on his approach to writing his novel A Legacy of Spies.
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Le Carré’s letter to his wife and sons looking at his past family relationships.
Bonus Letter – Le Carré talks about writing another Smiley post Legacy.
- A writer puts down his pen
Others letters we discuss touch on his relationship with his stepmother, his care about his work and readers, and the proper spelling of his pen name.
Get a letter of your own from me. Email your address to lecarrecast [at] gmail [dot] com and I will send a spy letter of your very own.
Interact with Steven and other spy fans on the Spybrary Facebook discussion group – https://www.spybrary.com/facebook
Jeff’s site – SpyWrite.com
Jeff’s twitter – @spywrite
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We are back with part 2 of our look at the letter in spy fiction and reality. Listen to part 1 here. We talk about the novel to read if you want to imagine you’re a CIA analyst, the first techno-thriller and learn about how real spies are communicating right now! All that and much […]
We talk with Richard Hutt the writer of the new map titled John le Carré’s London from Herb Lester Associates. We talk about his previous map, The Secret City, reading le Carré in lockdown, the difficulties and joys in finding locations le Carré used in his novels and challenge the listener to find le Carré’s […]
The book A Private Spy: The Letters of John le Carré has just been released in the UK. We’ll be taking a look at that book once it’s released in the US in December, but this is a perfect time to take a look at the usage of the humble letter in espionage. We talk […]
In this episode we finish our look at A Small Town in Germany, John le Carré’s fifth novel. Returning to discuss the book is espionage author James Wolff. We discuss how his treatment of female characters, whether this is a Agatha Christie novel in disguise and whether this could ever be adapted for television? Plus, […]
In this episode we look at A Small Town in Germany, the novel that comes midway between John le Carré’s breakout success – The Spy Who Came in from the Cold – and the novel that solidified his place as one of the world’s best spy novelists – Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy. I’m joined to […]
We talk with one of the foremost collectors of John le Carré novels, Steven Ritterman, whose collection of pristine le Carré editions numbers over 300 items. We learn about the Haycroft-Queen list, rare signed editions, and Steve’s undercover mission to meet le Carré himself. All that plus talk on champagne toasts with Otto Penzler, meeting Eric Ambler, […]
Find Part One Here. In this episode we continue to take a deep dive into the intricacies of one of John le Carré’s most unjustly overlooked novels – The Looking-Glass War. I’m again joined by critic and author Jeremy Duns. We talk class and Britain’s role in the world, how the book could be adapted […]
In this episode we take a deep dive into the intricacies of one of John le Carré’s most unjustly overlooked novels – The Looking-Glass War. I’m joined by critic and author Jeremy Duns. We talk about weird relationships, how the book is a proto-Slow Horses, and get the first ever comparison of le Carré and […]
In this episode I speak to Laura Marsh about her essay on le Carré and Silverview in the February 10th edition of The New York Review of Books. Laura is currently the literary editor at the The New Republic and previously wrote for and was an editor at The New York Review of Books. Her […]
In this episode we explore what happens when you get a whole gaggle of Cold War spy novelists together in one room. This is an adaption of an earlier piece that can be found here with links to various sources. Also there is a photo of the attendees. Find more podcasts like this in the […]
In the final episode of this four part look at Silverview Matthew Bradford and I continue to discuss John le Carré’s final complete novel. We discuss the climatic conclusion of Silverview! We also talk about where Silverview fits among le Carré’s work and some talk on collecting the book. All that and much more in […]
In Part three of this four part look at Silverview Matthew Bradford and I continue to discuss John le Carré’s final complete novel. In this third part we explore the plot and espionage in the novel. We discuss the way betrayal is different in this novel, what’s up with Edward’s creepy obsession with basements, and […]
In Part two of this four part look at Silverview Matthew Bradford and I continue to discuss John le Carré’s final complete novel. In our second part we talk about the settings of the novel. We discuss le Carré success in capturing life in a coastal town, the connection between W.G. Sebald’s The Rings of […]
In Part one of this four part look at Silverview I welcome back Matthew Bradford to discuss John le Carré’s final complete novel. In our first part we talk about the main characters in this novel. We discuss surprise over the speedy release of the novel, how this novel revisits many of le Carré’s favorite […]
In Part Two of this deep dive into Call for the Dead I welcome back guest Bee to discuss John le Carré’s first novel. We continue to get lots of hot takes on the novel from someone who has done a very close reading of le Carré’s work, but especially Call for the Dead. We […]
In this episode we explore a previously hidden chapter of le Carré’s life. Was this the moment everything changed for him? Listen for answers to that and much, much more. Previous discussion of this topic is here. Listen on Apple Podcasts Listen on Google Podcasts Listen on Spotify RSS Feed
In Part One of this deep dive into Call for the Dead I welcome guest Bee to discuss John le Carré’s first novel. In this provocative conversation we get plenty of hot takes on the novel from someone who has done a very close reading of all of le Carré’s work, but especially Call for […]
In this episode I am joined by Matthew Bradford of doubleOsection.blogspot.com to do a deep exploration of the sometimes overlooked John le Carré novel A Murder of Quality. We discuss private schools, religion in the UK and just how deep George Smiley’s cruel streak runs. Listen on Apple Podcasts Listen on Google Podcasts Listen on […]
Just after the passing away of John le Carré in December 2020, I spoke with Matthew Bradford of double0section.blogspot.com about le Carrê’s impact on espionage fiction. Listen on Apple Podcasts Listen on Google Podcasts Listen on Spotify RSS Feed
In this episode I provide an introduction to the world’s most famous spy writer. John le Carré began writing novels as a way to relieve the boredom of his duties as an upper-class raised British diplomat. That was what the world was told. The reality was that he wrote under a pseudonym; in truth he […]
I’m quite excited to launch something that has been in the process for awhile, a podcast dedicated to the works of John le Carré. The goal of this podcast is to do deep dives on each of his works, round table discussions on various topics related to the novels. films and TV programs. I hope […]