The Pigeon Tunnel

June 13, 2016
Always insightful, frequently charming, and sometimes sobering, the memorable tales told by master storyteller le Carré (A Delicate Truth) about his life will surely delight both longtime fans and newcomers. Le Carré’s stories take readers around the world, covering his posting as a young intelligence officer in post-WWII Germany, his time in Gorbachev’s Russia, and research trips for his novels. His witty reminiscences of situations both dangerous and absurd, and his well-delineated portraits of exceptional and quirky figures, bring to life the extraordinary adventures that fed his novels. Those novels deal with the slippery world of espionage, political intrigue, and secret agents—most famously through the exploits of English spymaster George Smiley. (Alec Guinness, who portrayed Smiley memorably on television, figures prominently in le Carré’s memoir as well.) In perhaps the most serious chapter, le Carré talks candidly about his con artist father, Ronnie, and the failings of both father and son. But his self-deprecating humor and wit are never far away, and he proves a most elegant and genial host on this tour of his life and work. Agent: Jonny Geller, Curtis Brown.

April 15, 2016

What's as good as reading a le Carre story? Reading le Carre's life story, as told by the master himself. After decades, folks are still reading le Carre; A Delicate Truth, his most recent title, spent six weeks on the New York Times best sellers list.

Copyright 2016 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 15, 2016

Now in his mid-80s, le Carre has been a best-selling spy novelist for more than half a century, beginning with the 1963 publication of the classic The Spy Who Came in from the Cold. Looking back on a life rich enough to spawn multiple globe-spanning novels (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy; The Constant Gardener, etc.), le Carre showcases his grand, cinematic sense of place and, over the book's 38 pieces--many of them sharp-eyed vignettes, others fully formed memories (including a long remembrance of a rocky relationship with his father, Ronnie)--the ineffable quality that defines a professional raconteur. It doesn't hurt that le Carre's reminiscences include a host of political leaders, writers and artists, and movers-and-shakers: Graham Greene, Margaret Thatcher, Alec Guinness, Yasser Arafat, Rupert Murdoch, and Francis Ford Coppola among them, as well as many whose identities remain hidden in the shadows. The inviting, drinks-beside-the-fire style from a master of the craft never overtakes the details of le Carre's remarkable life or his strong insider's opinions on issues of geopolitical import since World War II. VERDICT Highly recommended for readers interested in the history and evolution of the spy trade and political intrigue from a participant's perspective; le Carre's voice still resonates. [See Prepub Alert, 3/28/16.]--Patrick A. Smith, Bainbridge State Coll., GA

Copyright 2016 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.