Part 1 can be found here. Part 2 can be found here.

We delve into the fascinating life of the enigmatic author Sarah Gainham, also known as Rachel Ames, with her godson Jonathan Ray, a drinks editor for The Spectator. We explore Rachel’s mysterious persona, her connections with spies and diplomats, and her life as an author.

Jonathan shares stories about Rachel’s life in Vienna, her eccentric habits like stealing cats and smoking incessantly, and her love for Austrian wine. They also discuss her friendships with notable figures like Ian Fleming and John le Carré, her failed romantic relationships, and her significant yet largely forgotten contributions to spy fiction. Plus some stories of Jonathan’s war correspondent father, Cyril Ray.

All that and more in this episode!

The Estate of Sarah Gainham’s agent – https://greeneheaton.co.uk/clients/the-estate-of-sarah-gainham

Vienna’s Beer Clinic – http://www.goesser-bierklinik.at/en/

The Third Man Museum – https://www.3mpc.net/englsamml.htm

Grüner Veltliner – https://www.austrianwine.com/our-wine/grape-varieties/white-wine/gruener-veltliner

Jonathan’s article on The Third Man – https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/the-third-man-fans-guide-to-vienna/

Jonathan’s other writing at The Spectator – https://www.spectator.co.uk/writer/jonathan-ray/

Jonathan’s book – That’s the Spirit!

Jeff’s site – SpyWrite.com

Jeff’s twitter – @spywrite

The le Carré Cast on Twitter – @lecarrécast

00:48 Introducing Jonathan Ray

01:19 Rachel Ames: The Godmother

02:30 Early Life and Connections

04:37 Life in Vienna

05:59 Rachel’s Personality and Habits

09:38 Literary and Personal Legacy

24:37 Cold War Experiences

27:36 The Forgotten Fame of Rachel

28:33 Vienna and The Third Man

30:11 Rachel’s Love and Loneliness

34:16 Rachel’s Eccentricities and Memories

41:47 The Legacy of Rachel’s Novels

47:33 Preserving Rachel’s Archive

53:39 Final Thoughts and Farewell