By The le Carre Cast
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The podcast currently has 44 episodes available.
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.
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
Part 1 can be found here.
We are back with part 2 of this look at the novelist Sarah Gainham. I continue to be joined in the discussion with writer Jeremy Duns.
The episode begins with a recounting of a passage from ‘The Stone Roses,’ one of Gainham’s novels. We then discuss several of Gainham’s works, including ‘Time Right Deadly,’ ‘The Cold Dark Night,’ and ‘The Silent Hostage,’ exploring themes like politics, espionage, and deep human character studies.
We also have an upcoming interview with Jonathan Ray, Gainham’s godson, to gain more insights into the author’s life and inspirations.
All that and more in this episode.
01:41 Exploring Sarah Gainham’s Novels
02:05 Time Right Deadly: A Deep Dive
05:57 The Myth Maker: Kit Quest’s Adventure
11:37 The Stone Roses: A Recognizable Title
16:23 The Cold Dark Night: Berlin’s Espionage
25:25 Silent Hostage: Romance and Espionage 3
0:54 Ranking Sarah Gainham’s Novels
33:44 Upcoming Interview with Jonathan Ray
35:15 Closing Remarks and Other Podcasts
Jeremy’s twitter – @JeremyDuns
Jeremy’s Website – Jeremy-Duns.com
Jeff’s site – SpyWrite.com
Jeff’s twitter – @spywrite
Discovering Sarah Gainham: Unveiling the Overlooked Cold War Novelist
In this episode of the le Carré Cast, we introduce a new feature – ‘After le Carré,’ spotlighting authors beyond John le Carré. Jeff welcomes back Jeremy Duns, writer and spy fiction enthusiast, to discuss Sarah Gainham, a lesser-known but richly talented spy novelist. They delve into the essential elements of le Carré’s works, Gainham’s life and career, and especially her novel The Tiger, Life.
The discussion explores Gainham’s intricate plotting, authentic depictions of Cold War espionage, and her personal experiences that shaped her stories. The episode wraps up with intriguing insights into the realities of spy life and the dynamic between Gainham and her contemporaries.
All that and more in this episode.
00:00 Welcome to the le Carré Cast
00:38 Introducing ‘After le Carré’
00:48 Guest Introduction: Jeremy Duns
01:01 Defining a le Carré Novel
03:21 Spotlight on Sarah Gainham
06:24 Sarah Gainham’s Life and Career
09:30 Exploring Gainham’s Spy Novels
16:22 The Tiger, Life: Gainham’s Masterpiece
23:41 Debating Book Titles and Their Impact
26:33 Exploring the Novel’s Setting and Characters
28:23 Autobiographical Elements and Espionage
30:02 Complex Relationships and Character Analysis
39:38 Real-Life Inspirations and Historical Context
44:29 Conclusion and Upcoming Episodes
Jeremy’s twitter – @JeremyDuns
Jeremy’s Website – Jeremy-Duns.com
Jeff’s site – SpyWrite.com
Jeff’s twitter – @spywrite
In this episode of The le Carré Cast, I interview acclaimed playwright and screenwriter Shaun McKenna. Sean discusses his journey into writing, his collaboration process for bringing le Carré’s complex characters to life on BBC Radio 4, and the challenges of adapting intricate novels for audio. about his adaptation of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy and The Looking Glass War while highlighting Shaun’s eclectic career, including his involvement in the ‘Lord of the Rings’ musical. Sean also shares insights on the enduring appeal of audio drama in the UK and his current and upcoming projects.
Our previous look at The Smiley Radio Dramas can be found here –
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
00:46 Meet Shaun McKenna: The Adaptation Maestro
02:37 Shaun’s Journey into Audio Drama
04:13 The Smiley Radio Dramas: A Deep Dive
06:13 Challenges and Triumphs in Adaptation
08:39 The Art of Radio Drama
16:06 Capturing the Essence of le Carré
23:56 The Joys and Challenges of Radio Drama
26:11 The Decline of Radio Drama in the UK
28:48 A Writer’s Journey: From Actor to Adaptation Specialist
33:12 The Legacy of John le Carré’s Smiley Series
38:56 Reviving The Lord of the Rings Musical
41:20 Upcoming Projects and Final Thoughts
Shaun McKenna’s Website – ShaunMcKenna.me
The Lord of the Rings World Tour
The Lord of the Rings in Chicago
The Forsyte Saga
Homefront Radio Drama
Jeff’s site – SpyWrite.com
Jeff’s twitter – @spywrite
In this episode we continue our look at John le Carré’s 2008 novel, A Most Wanted Man.
I’m pleased to welcome back poet Clarissa Aykroyd to the show.
If you missed Part 1, you can find it here.
We talk about parallels between the novel’s characters and another famous spy duo, Jackson Lamb and Catherine Standish from Mick Herron’s ‘Slough House’ series. The conversation highlights the novel’s exploration of complex characters, long-term espionage strategies, and critiques of American actions post-9/11. We also discuss the film adaptation’s strengths and weaknesses, particularly praising its ending and Hoffman’s portrayal of the main character. Additionally, we speculate about a new TV adaptation of the novel for German television and its potential impact. The episode closes with a personal anecdote from Clarissa related to the novel.
All that and more in this episode.
Ernst Barlach Haus, the museum Clarissa mentioned from the book – https://www.barlach-haus.de/
Clarissa’s Website – https://thestoneandthestar.blogspot.com/
Clarissa’s Twitter – https://x.com/stoneandthestar
Jeff’s site – SpyWrite.com
Jeff’s twitter – @spywrite
In this episode we look at John le Carré’s 2008 novel, A Most Wanted Man.
I’m pleased to welcome poet Clarissa Aykroyd to the show.
We talk through the motivations of the various players, whether le Carré succeeded at creating fully realized characters and le Carré’s difficult writing women.
All that and more in this episode.
Clarissa’s Website – https://thestoneandthestar.blogspot.com/
Clarissa’s Twitter – https://x.com/stoneandthestar
Jeff’s site – SpyWrite.com
Jeff’s twitter – @spywrite
In this episode of the Le Carré Cast, Jeff interviews British historian Dominic Sandbrook. They delve into Sandbrook’s introduction to John le Carré’s works, particularly Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, and discuss the author’s literary impact and historical context. The conversation covers le Carré’s influence during Britain’s 1970s cultural and political landscape, along with Sandbrook’s personal exploration and critique of le Carré’s novels.
The episode also highlights Harold Wilson and Smiley, le Carré and Margaret Thatcher, and just how much should we know about our literary heroes.
Plus, a le Carré Assassin’s Creed and Star Wars’ Andor?
Dominic’s website – https://dominicsandbrook.com/
Dominic’s Twitter – https://x.com/dcsandbrook
The Rest is History club – https://therestishistory.supportingcast.fm/
Jeff’s site – SpyWrite.com
Jeff’s twitter – @spywrite
I’m excited to welcome back Mac Rogers, playwright and audio dramatist for the epic conclusion of our look at the BBC George Smiley radio dramas.
In this third and final part we dig into The Honourable Schoolboy, Smiley’s People and The Secret Pilgrim.
The best way to find a corpse, how stories differ when told by a master spy versus a mediocre spy, and if any radio producers are listening, Mac is waiting by the phone to adapt Legacy of Spies.
All that and more in this episode.
Mac’s website – https://www.macrogers.org/
Mac’s Twitter – https://twitter.com/macwrites
Gideon Media, the audio production company Mac is a part of – https://www.gideon-media.com/
Life/After – https://www.goldhawkproductions.com/lifeafter
The movie First Time Caller – https://tubitv.com/movies/100014730/first-time-caller
The George Smiley Audio Dramas on the BBC – https://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/features/smiley-season/
On Audible – https://www.audible.com/pd/The-Complete-George-Smiley-Radio-Dramas-Audiobook/B01DE1KAYC
Jeff’s site – SpyWrite.com
Jeff’s twitter – @spywrite
I’m excited to welcome back Mac Rogers, playwright and audio dramatist to continue to discuss the BBC George Smiley radio dramas.
In this second of three parts we dig into some of the biggest of le Carré’s novels – The Spy Who Came in from the Cold and Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy. Plus we discuss The Lookingglass War.
We also talk the star power this audio series brought, Brian Cox as Alec Leamas pre-Succession, and the trickiness of adapting Tinker Tailor for an audio drama.
All that and more in this episode.
Mac’s website – https://www.macrogers.org/
Mac’s Twitter – https://twitter.com/macwrites
Gideon Media, the audio production company Mac is a part of – https://www.gideon-media.com/
Life/After – https://www.goldhawkproductions.com/lifeafter
The movie First Time Caller – https://tubitv.com/movies/100014730/first-time-caller
The George Smiley Audio Dramas on the BBC – https://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/features/smiley-season/
On Audible – https://www.audible.com/pd/The-Complete-George-Smiley-Radio-Dramas-Audiobook/B01DE1KAYC
Jeff’s site – SpyWrite.com
Jeff’s twitter – @spywrite
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