I think I have read all his early ones (the Courtney family if I recall correctly) but as you say, he went off the boil later.
John Le Carre anyone ?
- Thread starter Dave7
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Flying_Monkey
Recyclist
- Location
- Odawa
Le Carré isn't (just) a thriller writer, he actually has literary substance and style. His books are subtle and complex. If what you want is action and people jumping out of planes and all that kind of thing, you aren't going to find it in Le Carré. If you want irony, depth and an understanding of how espionage actually works, including the utter corruption and cynicism of that world, then he's your man. The Spy Who Came in From the Cold is one of my favourite novels of all time in any genre. Of his recent work, I really liked A Most Wanted Man.
His son, Nick Harkaway, is also a fantastic author, albeit in a very different genre (the new weird end of science fiction).
His son, Nick Harkaway, is also a fantastic author, albeit in a very different genre (the new weird end of science fiction).
NorthernDave
Never used Über Member
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He's OK, but he's no Lee Child.
Yellow Fang
Legendary Member
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I read Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, which I quite liked, but I thought the BBC series was better.
Read Eric Ambler's Mask of Dimitrios, which is similar to some of Le Carrie's stuff but set in the 30's. That was pretty good.
Read Eric Ambler's Mask of Dimitrios, which is similar to some of Le Carrie's stuff but set in the 30's. That was pretty good.
Flying_Monkey
Recyclist
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Eric Ambler was highly regarded for a long time, and I really like his work, but it hasn't aged that well, and although Le Carré's novels all have a clear sense of time and place, I think the best ones still hold up better (so far...). There are some that really don't though - I reread A Small Town in Germany recently, and found it flabby and overly concerned with the tedious minutiae of expat life of the time.
matticus
Guru
Interesting reading this thread from a year ago, and comparing with the recent thread triggered by Le Carre's death; gosh, how many more -ve posts there are on this one!
I'm a big fan of Tinker Tailor ... (and loved the recent movie); haven't read many of his books, but just heard a strong/reliable recommendation for the latest, so it's going on my TBR list:
Agent Running in the Field
(I've just reread that - what a terrible title it is :P )
I'm a big fan of Tinker Tailor ... (and loved the recent movie); haven't read many of his books, but just heard a strong/reliable recommendation for the latest, so it's going on my TBR list:
Agent Running in the Field
(I've just reread that - what a terrible title it is :P )
swee'pea99
Legendary Member
Just had a horrible vision of Theresa May.
Beat me to it
matticus
Guru
Brilliant old interview now on iPlayer:John le Carre
Mark Lawson Talks To...
John le Carre converses with Mark Lawson about his fragmented childhood, life in the diplomatic service, working with Alec Guinness and his book A Most Wanted Man. https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00dwcp6
The guy was as sharp as a poisoned umbrella, and every answer contains some nugget. He clearly followed intelligence and diplomacy in detail all his life. Asked about the "War on Terror":
You would have just as much luck declaring War on Influenza.
Mark Lawson Talks To...
John le Carre converses with Mark Lawson about his fragmented childhood, life in the diplomatic service, working with Alec Guinness and his book A Most Wanted Man. https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00dwcp6
The guy was as sharp as a poisoned umbrella, and every answer contains some nugget. He clearly followed intelligence and diplomacy in detail all his life. Asked about the "War on Terror":
You would have just as much luck declaring War on Influenza.
Tail End Charlie
Well, write it down boy ......
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Another one who thinks the interview above is great.
