Master of spy thriller John le Carre dies at 89

[buksida]

John le Carre, who has died aged 89, shot to fame during the chilly depths of the Cold War as master of the spy thriller, before evolving to become a scathing chronicler of the moral costs of globalisation.

Age did not wither the writer's anger at the establishment, with Brexit -- Britain's divisive departure from the European Union -- breathing new life into his espionage oeuvre.

Speaking to AFP in December 2019, he urged Britons to "join the resistance" as they prepared to vote in a general election.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/life/arts-a ... dies-at-89

I may take a look at some of his modern stuff - I remember enjoying the classics such as Tinker Tailor and Smiley's People ...

[handdrummer]

I may take a look at some of his modern stuff - I remember enjoying the classics such as Tinker Tailor and Smiley's People ...

They're all good reads. The style, like most prolific novelists, becomes familiar but the plot twists make them interesting.

[Dannie Boy]

He also wrote the book “The Night Manager”which was adapted for a very successful/enjoyable TV programme of the same name


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[oakdale160]

George Smiley was a great invention and Alec Guinness played him to perfection.

[pharvey]

He also wrote the book “The Night Manager”which was adapted for a very successful/enjoyable TV programme of the same name
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I was going to say the same thing, but hadn't realised it was written nearly 30 years ago!! I'm sure like many others, I've not read his books but have seen several movie and screen adaptations of them - the latest being "The Night Manager", but others including the obvious "Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy" and one of my favorites "A Perfect Spy".

A great author and spy! (MI6/MI5)..... RIP.

[lindosfan1]

He also wrote the book “The Night Manager”which was adapted for a very successful/enjoyable TV programme of the same name
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I was going to say the same thing, but hadn't realised it was written nearly 30 years ago!! I'm sure like many others, I've not read his books but have seen several movie and screen adaptations of them - the latest being "The Night Manager", but others including the obvious "Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy" and one of my favorites "A Perfect Spy".

A great author and spy! (MI6/MI5)..... RIP.

I have not read his later books I must catch up now, superb author R.I.P

[lomuamart]

Yes, a sad loss as a writer.

I suppose Tinker, Tailor etc kicked it all off for me and whilst it was an excellent book, I have always felt that "The Spy Who Came In From the Cold" was possibly his best espionage effort. "A Perfect Spy" was also very good. In those two books, he wrote about the secret agent from a totally different perspective - ruined people who had betrayed everyone and were descending into madness, self doubt and hell. They just needed one final honourable thing to do to try and atone. In their own ways, very sad books but le Carre always reckoned he portrayed the spy realistically in them.

[caller]

I have enjoyed many of his books and agree with Lomu, his breakthrough novel, not his first, was one of his best and that was 'the spy who came in from the cold'. Great film as well. The Times reported that Alec Guiness so successfully captured the image of Smiley that if affected Le Carre's plans to use 'Smiley' in future novels, although he latterly did. They also stated he lived llife to the full as a Tory but voted Labour. I found his moralising a bit tiresome in some of the later works.

[buksida]

I've downloaded a couple of his newer stand-alone ones from that ebook archive to give them a go: Agent Running in the Field (his last), and A Legacy of Spies

Gotta love technology!

[caller]

I've downloaded a couple of his newer stand-alone ones from that ebook archive to give them a go: Agent Running in the Field (his last), and A Legacy of Spies

I'm not sure a legacy of spies is a stand alone novel. Probably best if yoou read 'the spy who came in from the cold' first. There's a cast of old faces in this book. I enjoyed it. Certainly easier on the mind than any of the 'tinker tailor' books.