Spy Novel Master Furious Over Brexit Moves Nationality to Ireland

Last Year Deceased John le Carr?'s Lifetime Criticism of 'Aggressive Nationalism'

It has been confirmed that John le Carr? (real name David John Moore Cornwell), the master of spy novels who passed away from pneumonia last December, acquired Irish citizenship shortly before his death.

The deceased's youngest son, Nicholas Cornwell, told the BBC on the 1st (local time), "My father passed away as an Irishman." The reason he renounced his British citizenship was due to Brexit, the United Kingdom's withdrawal from the European Union, which took place in January last year. Disillusioned by the complete break with the EU, he began to seek his Irish roots as he approached the end of his life.

During his lifetime, he criticized the British politicians who pushed for Brexit, calling it an aggressive nationalist sentiment. In an interview with the American CBS, he said, "The jingoistic Britain is not the Britain I want to know," referring to the hostile and self-centered psychological state toward other groups.

Thanks to his grandmother, who was of Irish descent, he was able to transfer his nationality smoothly. Cornwell said, "I gave my father the Irish flag on his last birthday," adding, "Among the last photos taken, there is one where my father is wrapped in the Irish flag, laughing joyfully."

He was a master of British spy novels. Drawing on his experience in the British Foreign Office and intelligence services, he portrayed vivid depictions that resonated with readers. Unlike Ian Fleming, who added romance to the '007 series,' he delved into the dark and shabby life of spies. By blurring the lines between good and evil, he realistically conveyed the atmosphere of the Cold War era.

Movie 'Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy' still cut

His breakthrough work was "The Spy Who Came in from the Cold" (1963), written while he was working as an intelligence officer. It tells the story of the head of British intelligence who confuses East German authorities by acting as a double agent. He maintained a tension and charm while immersing himself in the gloomy and anti-heroic world of spies. He ambiguously handled what was real and what was fabricated illusion, raising questions about what intelligence agencies are truly protecting.

After becoming a full-time writer in 1964, he consistently published spy novels infused with his own experiences. These include "Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy" (1974), "Smiley's People" (1979), "The Little Drummer Girl" (1983), "A Perfect Spy" (1986), "A Legacy of Spies" (2003), and "Agent Running in the Field" (2019). He sensitively addressed various issues occurring around the world and sharply captured the spirit of the times.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.