Master of Spy Novels John le Carr? Dies of Pneumonia
Focusing on the Dark and Meager Life of a Spy to Convey the Cold War Era Atmosphere
John le Carr? (89), a master of spy novels from the United Kingdom, has died of pneumonia, according to British media including the BBC on the 13th (local time). His real name was David John Moore Cornwell, who passed away on the 12th. While working for the British Foreign Office and intelligence services, he published his first novel, Call For The Dead (1959), under the pen name John le Carr?.
He approached readers with vivid depictions drawn from his intelligence agency experience. Unlike Ian Fleming, who added romance to the 007 series, le Carr? focused on the dark and bleak life of spies. He blurred the lines between good and evil, realistically conveying the atmosphere of the Cold War era.
His breakthrough work was The Spy Who Came in From the Cold (1963), written while he was active as an intelligence officer. The story involves the head of the British intelligence agency confusing East German authorities with a double agent. He maintained tension and allure while delving into the gloomy and anti-heroic world of spies. He ambiguously handled what is reality and what is fabricated illusion, also questioning what intelligence agencies are truly protecting.
After becoming a full-time writer in 1964, he consistently published spy novels infused with his own experiences, including Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy (1974), Smiley's People (1979), The Little Drummer Girl (1983), A Perfect Spy (1986), The Constant Gardener (2003), and A Legacy of Spies (2019).
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He sensitively addressed various issues occurring around the world and captured the spirit of the times. Thanks to this, he received numerous literary awards such as the Gold Dagger Award (twice) and the Diamond Dagger Award from the British Crime Writers' Association. He was also awarded honorary doctorates from the University of Bern in Switzerland and the University of Oxford in the UK. Last year, he received the Olof Palme Prize for his contributions to human rights and peace.
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