Category: Jeremy Duns
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Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy – Ricki Tarr Declassifed Part 2
This episode I continue to talk with writer Paul French about all things Ricki Tarr. We explore how Tarr’s secret family, whether he’s the dark side of Bond and how Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is wrapped up in the end of empire. Plus, what might have Tarr gotten up to after the end of Tinker…
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Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy – Ricki Tarr Declassifed Part 1
This episode I talk with writer Paul French about all things Ricki Tarr. We explore how Tarr’s backstory reflects the declining British Empire as much as the Cold War, how his past explains his the character we see in the novel and unwrap Tarr’s past as a ruthless killer. Plus, Japanese prisoner of war camps,…
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After le Carre – Eric Ambler Bonus
This episode we close out our look at Eric Ambler with a special bonus – my conversation with legendary bookstore owner and editor Otto Penzler. We discuss his time meeting Eric Ambler and his attempt to get Ambler to sign his Ambler collection All that and much more in this episode! Jeremy’s twitter – @JeremyDuns Jeremy’s…
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After le Carre – Eric Ambler Part 2
This episode we continue to look at an author worth reading after you’ve finished looking at all of the works of le Carré – Eric Ambler. We discuss Ambler’s post WW2 work, his obsession with coups, and his somewhat unreliable autobiography. Plus, that terrible cover art! All that and much more in this episode! Passage…
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After le Carre – Eric Ambler Part 1
This episode we look at another author to explore once you’ve finished looking at all of the works of le Carré. This time it is the granddaddy of thrillers, Eric Amber. We discuss how Ambler’s political worldview influenced his writing, themes in common with le Carré, and Plus we explore his early reading influences and…
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John le Carre vs. Ian Fleming
This episode I welcome back author and Bond expert Jeremy Duns to tackle the “le Carré or Fleming?” debate from a different angle: what they thought of each other. We talk generational differences (Fleming shaped by WWII, le Carré by Cold War service.) We read an Allen Dulles interview where Fleming praises The Spy Who…
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The le Carre Cast 2024 recap
In this episode I’ve pulled some of my favorite clips from shows this past year. If you missed an episode or enjoyed the shows from this past year, I think you’ll enjoy it. Listen in for the cream of the crop! Dominic Sandbrook on le Carré Paul French on The Honourable Schoolboy Mac Rodgers on…
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After le Carré: Jonathan Ray on Sarah Gainham
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…
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After le Carré: Sarah Gainham Explored Part 2
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…
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After le Carré: Sarah Gainham Explored Part 1
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…
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Dead Drop – Letters in Spy Fiction and Reality Part 2
We are back with part 2 of our look at the letter in spy fiction and reality. Listen to part 1 here. We talk about the novel to read if you want to imagine you’re a CIA analyst, the first techno-thriller and learn about how real spies are communicating right now! All that and much…
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The Secret History of Spy Letters
The book A Private Spy: The Letters of John le Carré has just been released in the UK. We’ll be taking a look at that book once it’s released in the US in December, but this is a perfect time to take a look at the usage of the humble letter in espionage. We talk…
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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…
