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

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

The le Carré Cast - A podcast on John le Carré novels is made with Jetpack Podcast. Full show notes and every episode at https://lecarrecast.com/

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

The le Carré Cast - A podcast on John le Carré novels is made with Jetpack Podcast. Full show notes and every episode at https://lecarrecast.com/

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

The le Carré Cast - A podcast on John le Carré novels is made with Jetpack Podcast. Full show notes and every episode at https://lecarrecast.com/

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

The le Carré Cast - A podcast on John le Carré novels is made with Jetpack Podcast. Full show notes and every episode at https://lecarrecast.com/

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

The le Carré Cast - A podcast on John le Carré novels is made with Jetpack Podcast. Full show notes and every episode at https://lecarrecast.com/

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

The le Carré Cast - A podcast on John le Carré novels is made with Jetpack Podcast. Full show notes and every episode at https://lecarrecast.com/

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

The le Carré Cast - A podcast on John le Carré novels is made with Jetpack Podcast. Full show notes and every episode at https://lecarrecast.com/

This episode I am pleased to welcome Mac Rogers, playwright and audio dramatist to discuss the BBC George Smiley radio dramas.

In this first part we talk about Mac’s journey to writing for audio, reading le Carré and listening to the audio drams. Plus we dive into aspects of the audio format and the first two Smiley adaptations.

Plus, we touch on Doctor Who, love of Simon Russell Beale, UK and US differences regarding audio and the masterstroke that adapters Robert Forrest and Shaun McKenna came up with for the Smiley audio dramas.

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

The le Carré Cast - A podcast on John le Carré novels is made with Jetpack Podcast. Full show notes and every episode at https://lecarrecast.com/

This episode I return with Phil Tinline and Bernard Hughes.

We continue discussing Phil’s article in the New Statesman on the London of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy by John le Carré and how it’s different from the London of today.

Topics include the le Carré and conspiracies, a discussion of Adam Sisman’s latest book, and plus writers that write well about London and what areas did le Carré miss?

Plus the current lack of smoke and dog poo in London. All that and more in this episode.

Phil’s article in The New Statesman, John Le Carré and the spectre of British decline – https://www.newstatesman.com/the-weekend-essay/2023/08/john-le-carre-spectre-british-decline

The Death of Consensus by Phil Tinline – https://www.hurstpublishers.com/book/the-death-of-consensus/

Phil’s BBC Radio documentary Conspiracies: The Secret Knowledge – https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000t034

Phil’s article on JFK and conspiracies – https://www.newstatesman.com/ideas/2023/11/jfk-assassination-60-years-myth-martyr-saviour

Phil’s twitter – https://twitter.com/phil_tinline

Bernard’s review of The Secret Life of John le Carré – https://theartsdesk.com/books/adam-sisman-secret-life-john-le-carr%C3%A9-review-tinker-tailor-soldier-cheat

Bernard Hughes website – https://www.bernardhughes.net/

Bernard’s album Bagetelles – https://listn.fm/bagatelleshughes/

Bernard’s latest album, Songs for our Times – https://divineartrecords.com/recording/songs-for-our-times/

Jeff’s site – SpyWrite.com

Jeff’s twitter – @spywrite

The le Carré Cast - A podcast on John le Carré novels is made with Jetpack Podcast. Full show notes and every episode at https://lecarrecast.com/

This episode I’m excited to welcome Phil Tinline and Bernard Hughes to the show.

We discuss Phil’s article in the New Statesman on the London of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy by John le Carré and how it’s different from the London of today.

Topics include the political background of Tinker, whether Tinker was a case of perfect timing, how the echos of the 30’s reverberated in the 70’s and some quibbles with Richard Hutt’s placement of various locations in his le Carré map

All that and more in this episode.

Come back in two weeks for part two.

Phil’s article in The New Statesman, John Le Carré and the spectre of British decline – https://www.newstatesman.com/the-weekend-essay/2023/08/john-le-carre-spectre-british-decline

The Death of Consensus by Phil Tinline – https://www.hurstpublishers.com/book/the-death-of-consensus/

Bernard Hughes website – https://www.bernardhughes.net/

Bernard’s album Bagetelles – https://listn.fm/bagatelleshughes/

Bernard’s latest album, Songs for our Times – https://divineartrecords.com/recording/songs-for-our-times/

Jeff’s site – SpyWrite.com

Jeff’s twitter – @spywrite

The le Carré Cast - A podcast on John le Carré novels is made with Jetpack Podcast. Full show notes and every episode at https://lecarrecast.com/