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/

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 novelist Nick Harkaway, talking about his latest work, Karla’s Choice, a continuation of the George Smiley saga. The discussion navigates through Nick’s experiences growing up with his father, John le Carré, and the influence on his own writing journey.

We discuss the challenges of upholding a literary legacy, Nick’s career transition from screenwriting to novel writing, and the evolution of characters within the espionage universe created by his father.

We talk returning characters and how spying is magic. Plus, Wikipedia controversies, le Carré’s changing voice, and the difficulty of titling a book.

All that and much more in this episode.

Nick’s website – https://nickharkaway.com/

Nick’s Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/harkaway/

Buy Karla’s Choice – https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/763435/karlas-choice-by-nick-harkaway/

Jeff’s site – SpyWrite.com

Jeff’s twitter – @spywrite

In this episode we continue our look at John le Carré’s 1977 novel, The Honourable Schoolboy. Find Part 1 here and Part 2 here.

Writer Paul French returns to the show for our epic finale looking at The Honourable Schoolboy.

We talk more about the politics of Southeast Asia in the 1970’s, Jeff throws out his crazy fanboy theories and did Janet Leigh Carr really happen? Plus could The Honourable Schoolboy ever be filmed?

All that and much more in this episode.

Paul’s Website – https://paulfrench.substack.com/

Paul’s article on le Carré – https://thechinaproject.com/2021/02/05/what-a-john-le-carre-novel-can-teach-about-china/

Paul’s new’s book Her Lotus Year – https://read.macmillan.com/lp/her-lotus-year/

Paul’s breakout hit Midnight in Peking – https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/242223/paul-french/

Paul’s Twitter – https://x.com/chinarhyming

Jeff’s site – SpyWrite.com

Jeff’s twitter – @spywrite

In this episode we continue our look at John le Carré’s 1977 novel, The Honourable Schoolboy. Find Part 1 here.

Writer Paul French returns to the show to share his extensive knowledge of China and Hong Kong.

We talk about the political background surrounding China and the UK when THS was written, the Ko brothers, and ponder Lizzie Worthington. Plus what’s the deal with Jerry Westerby?

All that and much more in this episode.

Part 3

Paul’s Website – https://paulfrench.substack.com/

Paul’s article on le Carré – https://thechinaproject.com/2021/02/05/what-a-john-le-carre-novel-can-teach-about-china/

Paul’s new’s book Her Lotus Year – https://read.macmillan.com/lp/her-lotus-year/

Paul’s breakout hit Midnight in Peking – https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/242223/paul-french/

Paul’s Twitter – https://x.com/chinarhyming

Jeff’s site – SpyWrite.com

Jeff’s twitter – @spywrite

In this episode we begin our look at John le Carré’s 1977 novel, The Honourable Schoolboy.

I’m pleased to welcome writer Paul French to the show. Paul has extensive knowledge of China and Hong Kong and is the perfect person to discuss this particular novel.

We talk about where le Carré got his ideas for the opening scene of the novel, the politics of the time and some F.I.L.T.H. Plus the Hong Kong foreign correspondents club’s urinal?

All that and much more in this episode.

Part 2

Part 3

Paul’s Website – https://paulfrench.substack.com/

Paul’s article on le Carré – https://thechinaproject.com/2021/02/05/what-a-john-le-carre-novel-can-teach-about-china/

Paul’s new’s book Her Lotus Year – https://read.macmillan.com/lp/her-lotus-year/

Paul’s breakout hit Midnight in Peking – https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/242223/paul-french/

Paul’s Twitter – https://x.com/chinarhyming

Jeff’s site – SpyWrite.com

Jeff’s twitter – @spywrite

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