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Secret And Beyond – Political Thrillers with Frank Sennett
Frank Sennett joins the show to talk about political thrillers and Mick Herron and John le Carré. We talk about US versus UK spy novels, Matt Helm, and favorite Herron and le Carré novels. Plus we talk about how to write politics in fiction without alienating readers and how one author used the nuclear option…
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Guillam Coffee and Abdelraham Fathalla – Interview
We raised $1300 for Room to Read this holiday season. Thanks to everyone who donated. If you still wanted to donate, go here or share the link – http://tinyurl.com/spiesread We are back with a interview with founder of Guillam Coffee and le Carré superfan Abdelrahman Fathalla. We talk about why he named his business after…
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John le Carré’s London
We talk with Richard Hutt the writer of the new map titled John le Carré’s London from Herb Lester Associates. We talk about his previous map, The Secret City, reading le Carré in lockdown, the difficulties and joys in finding locations le Carré used in his novels and challenge the listener to find le Carré’s…
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A Small Town in Germany by John le Carré Explored Part 2
In this episode we finish our look at A Small Town in Germany, John le Carré’s fifth novel. Returning to discuss the book is espionage author James Wolff. We discuss how his treatment of female characters, whether this is a Agatha Christie novel in disguise and whether this could ever be adapted for television? Plus,…
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Collecting John le Carré
We talk with one of the foremost collectors of John le Carré novels, Steven Ritterman, whose collection of pristine le Carré editions numbers over 300 items. We learn about the Haycroft-Queen list, rare signed editions, and Steve’s undercover mission to meet le Carré himself. All that plus talk on champagne toasts with Otto Penzler, meeting Eric Ambler,…
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The Looking-Glass War by John le Carré Explored Part 2
Find Part One Here. In this episode we continue to take a deep dive into the intricacies of one of John le Carré’s most unjustly overlooked novels – The Looking-Glass War. I’m again joined by critic and author Jeremy Duns. We talk class and Britain’s role in the world, how the book could be adapted…
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The Looking-Glass War by John le Carré Explored Part 1
In this episode we take a deep dive into the intricacies of one of John le Carré’s most unjustly overlooked novels – The Looking-Glass War. I’m joined by critic and author Jeremy Duns. We talk about weird relationships, how the book is a proto-Slow Horses, and get the first ever comparison of le Carré and…
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Silverview by John le Carré Explored Part 4 – Episode 11
In the final episode of this four part look at Silverview Matthew Bradford and I continue to discuss John le Carré’s final complete novel. We discuss the climatic conclusion of Silverview! We also talk about where Silverview fits among le Carré’s work and some talk on collecting the book. All that and much more in…
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Silverview by John le Carré Explored Part 3 – Episode 10
In Part three of this four part look at Silverview Matthew Bradford and I continue to discuss John le Carré’s final complete novel. In this third part we explore the plot and espionage in the novel. We discuss the way betrayal is different in this novel, what’s up with Edward’s creepy obsession with basements, and…
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Silverview by John le Carré Explored Part 2 – Episode 9
In Part two of this four part look at Silverview Matthew Bradford and I continue to discuss John le Carré’s final complete novel. In our second part we talk about the settings of the novel. We discuss le Carré success in capturing life in a coastal town, the connection between W.G. Sebald’s The Rings of…
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Silverview by John le Carré Explored Part 1 – Episode 8
In Part one of this four part look at Silverview I welcome back Matthew Bradford to discuss John le Carré’s final complete novel. In our first part we talk about the main characters in this novel. We discuss surprise over the speedy release of the novel, how this novel revisits many of le Carré’s favorite…
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A Murder of Quality by John le Carré – Explored – Episode 4
In this episode I am joined by Matthew Bradford of doubleOsection.blogspot.com to do a deep exploration of the sometimes overlooked John le Carré novel A Murder of Quality. We discuss private schools, religion in the UK and just how deep George Smiley’s cruel streak runs. Listen on Apple Podcasts Listen on Google Podcasts Listen on…
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His Secret Sharer – The hidden truths of John le Carré – Episode 2
In this episode I provide an introduction to the world’s most famous spy writer. John le Carré began writing novels as a way to relieve the boredom of his duties as an upper-class raised British diplomat. That was what the world was told. The reality was that he wrote under a pseudonym; in truth he…