John le Carré

John le Carré is the pseudonym of David John Moore Cornwell (born October 19, 1931 in Poole, Dorset, England). He began his formal schooling at Sherborne School in England. Later, he studied at the University of Berne, developing a fascination in foreign languages, and Lincoln College, Oxford, then he taught at Eton College for 2 years. He then joined the British Foreign Service (ultimately MI6), where he served mostly in West Germany. Kim Philby, notorious British double agent, gave le Carré's name up to the Russians.

Related Topics:
Pseudonym - October 19 - 1931 - Poole - Dorset - England - Sherborne School - University of Berne - Lincoln College, Oxford - Eton College - British Foreign Service - MI6 - West Germany - Kim Philby

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John Le Carré is the author of many Cold War thrillers, notably those recounting the exploits of George Smiley. Two novels of the Karla trilogy series, Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy and Smiley's People, were adapted as BBC television series, wherein Alec Guinness stars as the eponymous protagonist of the latter.

Related Topics:
Cold War - George Smiley - Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy - Smiley's People - BBC - Television series - Alec Guinness

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le Carré's work is a response to the James Bond spy mythology - his heroes are more complex, and their circumstances far less glamorous. He is widely hailed as writing some of the most literary spy novels of the 20th century.

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le Carré published an essay entitled "The United States has gone mad" in The Times in January 2003, protesting the war in Iraq, saying: "How Bush and his junta succeeded in deflecting America's anger from bin Laden to Saddam Hussein is one of the great public relations conjuring tricks of history." He has turned down a number of awards, including knighthood.

Related Topics:
The Times - Knighthood

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Le Carré married twice. With his first wife, Ann Martin, he has three children: Simon, Stephen, Timothy. With his second wife Valerie, another son Nicholas. He resides in Cornwall, England.

Related Topics:
Cornwall - England

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