UK spy novelist John le Carre dead at 89

[Onkel Neal]

Alas. Loved his books.

UK spy novelist John le Carre dead at 89
https://www.northerndailyleader.com....at-89/?cs=9676

[Jimbuna]

A literary giant.

RIP

[Bilge_Rat]

Rest in peace.

A great spy novelist, I read many of his books, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy by far my favorite.

[Aktungbby]

I never actually read fiction...just history; but I liked all the movies his work created, and the character of George Smiley in particular as portrayedp by Sir Alec Guinness and Gary Oldman. As a former spy-turned-author goes, he more than gave Ian Fleming a run for the money!

[Bilge_Rat]

I have the Tinker Sailor Soldier Spy DVD collection for the 1979 BBC mini-series which I have watched many times, much superior IMHO to the Gary Oldman movie version, but only because they had to simplify so much stuff to fit into a 2 hour movie vs a 6 hour mini-series, but even the mini series only covered maybe 20-25% of what was in the book. Le Carré was a master in writing little stories that seemed like a side story, but became crucial to the plot later on as well as providing tons of context on the Cold War.

Another excellent novel he wrote was the "The Little Drummer Girl", which in the TV/movie adaptations become a standard "catch the terrorist" spy plot, but in the book becomes a very thorough examination of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as mirrored through the secret war between Mossad and various PLO groups. No one has clean hands in a Le Carré novel.

[Catfish]

Originally Posted by Bilge_Rat

[...] Another excellent novel he wrote was the "The Little Drummer Girl", [...] in the book becomes a very thorough examination of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as mirrored through the secret war between Mossad and various PLO groups. No one has clean hands in a Le Carré novel.

.. and no one in reality. I am all for Israel and the state, but i admit this book (when the girl visits the palestinian village which is terror-bombed by Israeli aircraft) along with some further reading about this subject made me a bit more critical about Israel and its settling politics

He was a very sharp observer of contemporary history and inter-human relations and competition. Also an outspoken critic of brexit and following british politics.
Rest in peace, Mr. le Carré.