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A Private Spy

The Letters of John le Carré 1945-2020
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Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
A Private Spy by John le Carré offers a collection of the author's private letters, providing an insightful glimpse into his life and thoughts over several decades. Through his correspondence, readers gain an understanding of his perspectives on world events, his literary career, and personal passions. This memoir-like compilation allows fans and new readers to explore the human side of the renowned novelist.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

Delve into the life and mind of the master of espionage fiction through his own letters. This biography and memoir may appeal to you if you're fascinated by behind-the-scenes insights into the life of an iconic author, or if you enjoy exploring personal reflections that offer glimpses into the world of international intrigue and human emotion.

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A Private Spy

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

A collection of letters from John le Carré, one of the greatest British novelists of our time, and a fabulous letter writer, spanning decades from his childhood to the Cold War to his final years.

John le Carré was one of the greatest novelists of his generation but also had an extraordinary life, from his childhood with a con man father to his inimitable career as a writer. From his involvement in the Cold War, time in Berlin, travels to Vietnam and engagement with world leaders, his experiences were truly remarkable.

This collection of letters reveals John le Carré - the man, the writer and his world - for the first time and most intimately. Including letters to Stephen Fry and about Mrs Thatcher, and correspondence with Alec Guinness and a ten-year-old aspiring spy, Selected Letters come together with crispness and clarity to illuminate the extraordinary writer. A magnificent and tender portrait for John le Carré's many millions of fans around the world.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780241550106

Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 13 October 2022

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Viking

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 45.0mm

Width: 153.0mm

Height: 234.0mm

Weight: 862g

Pages: 752

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About the Author

John le Carre was born in 1931. For six decades, he wrote novels that came to define our age. The son of a confidence trickster, he spent his childhood between boarding school and the London underworld. At sixteen he found refuge at the University of Bern, then later at Oxford. A spell of teaching at Eton led him to a short career in British Intelligence (MI5 & 6). He published his debut novel, Call for the Dead, in 1961 while still a secret servant. His third novel, The Spy Who Came in from the Cold, secured him a worldwide reputation, which was consolidated by the acclaim for his trilogy, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, The Honourable Schoolboy and Smiley's People. At the end of the Cold War, le Carre widened his scope to explore an international landscape including the arms trade and the War on Terror. His memoir, The Pigeon Tunnel, was published in 2016 and the last George Smiley novel, A Legacy of Spies, appeared in 2017. He died on 12 December 2020. His posthumous novel, Silverview, was published in 2021.

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