Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy Matryoshka Dolls
Category: John Le Carré
Spy Games – Enemy Agent
Every so often I'll be highlighting some of the spy games I've picked up from various second hand stores over the years. I haven't played most of these yet, as finding willing spy game participants can be tricky, but I'm hoping to road test some of these as the kids get older. Did you ever …
Le Carré Recommends – Part 4
Over the past couple years I've been posting about some of the books and authors that I've found that John le Carré has recommended over time. Le Carré tends to dole out his support sparingly, especially since he someone faked a recommendation from him, so it's always interesting to see what he's endorsed. Thanks to …
Collecting A Legacy of Spies
The biggest story of last year was the announcement that John le Carré had written a new Smiley novel. Fans of le Carré's all over the world were shocked. Le Carré had seemed to put a button on Smiley with The Secret Pilgrim so every fan is excited about the new novel. As a collector, …
Slow Horses by Mick Herron
A look at Mick Herron's spy novel, Slow Horses
The Spybrary podcast
One of the best things in the past year has been the appearance of the Spybrary podcast. Spybrary is run by Shane Whaley, an avid spy fan who wanted to create something that gave people a place to learn more about spy fiction and create a community of spy fans. The podcast has consisted of …
Interview with Toby Manning on John le Carré and the Cold War – Part Two
We conclude our interview with Toby Manning on his book John le Carré and the Cold War. Find part one here. When you’re done reading my interview listen to the Spybrary podcast interview with Toby Manning. Spy Write: It seems that le Carré's post-Cold War work may have been what muddied the waters regarding the “otherness” …
Continue reading Interview with Toby Manning on John le Carré and the Cold War – Part Two
The Fake le Carré Blurb Scandal
Finding books that John le Carré has recommended, contributed to or written introductions/forewords to has become something of a passion project for me. In the process of doing this research I came upon its flip side - the fake le Carré blurb scandal. Back in 1991 a writer named Derek Van Arman was involved in a …
Le Carré Recommends – Part 3
I"m back with another addition to my growing list of books le Carré has recommended or blurbed. Catch up with my previous posts - Part one Part two Here are the new additions - The Reason Why by Cecil Woodham-Smith - JlC review - "I’m not sure why I returned to this classic account of one …
Best of 2017
Last year I put together a short list of some of my favorite things from the past year. I’ve done it again and here they are in no particular order - A Divided Spy by Charles Cumming - This one is a little selfish. I won a auction to have my name appear in the …