In this episode we are celebrating 50 years of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy by counting up to 50 interesting things about the book.

For numbers one to ten I’m welcoming Matthew Bradford back to the podcast. We talk that iconic cover, opening line and dig into the mystery of who the novel was dedicated to.

All that and much more in this episode.

Le Carré’s First Line is here.

My interview with Richard Hutt on his le Carré map is here.

Matthew on le Carré is here.

Jeff’s site – SpyWrite.com

Jeff’s twitter – @spywrite

In this episode I speak to author Ben H. Winters about his Crime Reads article “In Praise of Reading Le Carré’s Entire Oeuvre In Order”.

We talk about the joys of reading an author’s work from start to finish, the connection between author and reader as well as The Looking Glass War as The Bad News Bears.

All that and much more in this episode.

P.S. Yes, there was a SNL skit that contemplated “What if Eleanor Roosevelt could fiy?”

Ben’s article on reading John le Carré is here.

Ben’s website is here.

Ben’s latest book Big Time is here.

Ben’s latest Audible original, Hitchhikers is here.

Jeff’s site – SpyWrite.com

Jeff’s twitter – @spywrite

In this episode we continue to look at Nick Harkaway’s 2024 George Smiley novel, Karla’s Choice. You can find part one here.

Steven Ritterman, le Carré expert and collector, returns to talk through what we thought about this new Smiley novel.

Plus, an exclusive discussion with Nick Harkaway about Karla’s choice.

All that and much more in this episode.

Steven’s episode on collecting John le Carré is here.

Spybrary’s interview with Nick Harkaway.

The le Carré Cast interview with Nick Harkaway.

Jeff’s site – SpyWrite.com

Jeff’s twitter – @spywrite

In this episode we look at Nick Harkaway’s 2024 George Smiley novel, Karla’s Choice.

Steven Ritterman, le Carré expert and collector, joins me to talk through all of our thoughts on this Smiley continuation novel.

We talk reference Jurassic Park’s famous quote “Your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn’t stop to think if they should,”

All that and much more in this episode.

We’ll be back in two weeks for part 2.

Steven’s episode on collecting John le Carré is here.

Jeff’s site – SpyWrite.com

Jeff’s twitter – @spywrite

In this episode I’ve pulled some of my favorite clips from shows this past year. If you missed an episode or enjoyed the shows from this past year, I think you’ll enjoy it. Listen in for the cream of the crop!

Dominic Sandbrook on le Carré

Paul French on The Honourable Schoolboy

Mac Rodgers on the BBC Audio Dramas

Shaun McKenna on writing the BBC Audio Dramas

Jeremy Duns on Sarah Gainham

Jonathan Ray on his Godmother Sarah Gainham

Clarissa Aykroyd on A Most Wanted Man

Shane Whaley on Absolute Friends

David Eldridge on The Spy Who Came In From The Cold

Nick Harkaway on Karla’s Choice

Jeff on the SpyHards podcast talking about Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

Jeff’s site – SpyWrite.com

Jeff’s twitter – @spywrite

Email Jeff at lecarrecast AT gmail.com

This episode the le Carré Cast delves into the world of true crime with a look at one of the strangest moments in le Carré’s literary history.

You won’t read about this one in Sisman’s biography!

Settle in for the case of the fake blurbs.

Further Reading

Sources used to write this post are below. Both The New York Times and The Washington Post had some great reporting on the story with “The Bizarre story of Derek Goodwin” being especially well done.

“A Spy Novel’s boosters it seems, aren’t” 04/13/1991, The New York Times

“Book Notes” 09/25/1991, The New York Times

“Manuscript with False Praise is Rejected” 04/26/1991, The New York Times

“The Bizarre story of Derek Goodwin” 04/08/1991, The Washington Post

“What’s up with the book biz” 04/23/1991, The Washington Post

Thanks to Matthew Kresal for finding this 06/02/2013 interview, “The killer serial killer who scared the FBI”, with the Derek Goodwin in the French magazine, L’Express. All quotes from that story are with the caveat that they were run through Google Translate.

Val Mcdermid’s message board posts circa 2003-2008 had some interesting discussions on the book.

Clive Cussler by Stuart Leuthner had more on Cussler’s take on the incident.

Jeff’s site – SpyWrite.com

Jeff’s twitter – @spywrite

In this episode we continue to look at John le Carré’s 2003 novel, Absolute Friends.

Shane Whaley, host of the Spybrary podcast, is back to break down all of the action in this novel.

We talk about the dramatic end of the novel, Mundy and Sasha’s motives and talk about the dangers of entrapment.

Plus, an unexpected change in point of view that le Carré deploys at the end of the book?

All that and much more in this episode.

Find Part 1 here.

God’s Spies by Elizabeth Braw – https://www.amazon.com/Gods-Spies-Stasis-Espionage-Campaign-ebook/dp/B07Z4BFKSL/

Laura Miller’s interview with le Carré on Absolute Friends – https://www.salon.com/2004/01/05/le_carre/

The Sceptre cover –

Shane’s show Spybrary – https://spybrary.com/

Spybrary’s Facebook Community – https://www.facebook.com/groups/spybrary/

Shane’s Twitter – https://x.com/spybrary

Jeff’s site – SpyWrite.com

Jeff’s twitter – @spywrite

In this episode we look at John le Carré’s 2003 novel, Absolute Friends.

Shane Whaley, host of the Spybrary podcast joins the show to look at one of his favorite le Carré novels.

We talk about the enigma that is Absolute Friends lead character Ted Mundy. How many trips over the wall does it take to get a gold watch from MI6? And do all tour guides make good spies? Plus, Lutheran pastor Stasi spies!

All that and much more in this episode.

We’ll be back in two weeks for part 2.

God’s Spies by Elizabeth Braw – https://www.amazon.com/Gods-Spies-Stasis-Espionage-Campaign-ebook/dp/B07Z4BFKSL/

Shane’s show Spybrary – https://spybrary.com/

Spybrary’s Facebook Community – https://www.facebook.com/groups/spybrary/

Shane’s Twitter – https://x.com/spybrary

Jeff’s site – SpyWrite.com

Jeff’s twitter – @spywrite

Donate to #TeamEvie and the Literally Healing program at the Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles. Go to TinyURL.com/giveTE to make a monetary donation to the Literally Healing program or go to TinyURL.com/TeamE24, pick a book and make sure to pick Team Evie as the shipping location. That’s so much for your support.

In this episode I am pleased to welcome playwright David Eldridge to the show. We discuss his work adapting the book for the stage, Leamas and Liz, and the issues he hopes folks are talking about after the show.

Plus a sneak peek at David’s upcoming ITV show Betrayal.

All that and much more in this episode.

David’s wikipedia page – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Eldridge_(dramatist)

David’s Twitter – https://x.com/deldridgewriter?lang=en

Buy The Spy Who Came in from the Cold play – https://www.bloomsbury.com/us/spy-who-came-in-from-the-cold-9781350512214/

Jeff’s site – SpyWrite.com

Jeff’s twitter – @spywrite

Donate to #TeamEvie and the Literally Healing program at the Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles. Go to TinyURL.com/giveTE to make a monetary donation to the Literally Healing program or go to TinyURL.com/TeamE24, pick a book and make sure to pick Team Evie as the shipping location. That’s so much for your support.

In this episode I am pleased to welcome Meredith and Duane Swierczynski to the show to talk about the Evelyn Swierczynski Foundation. We learn about the Literally Healing program at CHLA, more about Evie, and various ways to give.

Thanks so much to everyone who has already donated. I’ve heard from some of you and it means so much to see the generosity of this community.

Go to TinyURL.com/giveTE to make a monetary donation to the Literally Healing program or go to TinyURL.com/TeamE24, pick a book and make sure to pick Team Evie as the shipping location. That’s so much for your support.

Find the foundation here – https://www.teameviefoundation.com/