The le Carré Cast - A podcast on John le Carré novels

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

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