John Le Carre - Master Spy Novelist

Born in 1931 as David John Moore Cornwell he worked for MI5 and later MI6 during the Cold War and it was at this time that he began writing spy novels under the pseudonym John Le Carre. In 1963 "The Spy Who Came In From The Cold" won him international acclaim, he became a full time author and has written 22 novels as well as non- fiction. Most of these are spy novels, but none of these are 007 type fantasies. Le Carre has an insight and underlying knowledge of the dealings of politicians, oligarchs, espionage and deceit. This lends plausibility to the characters and events in his novels. The Cold War was the theatre for most of his earlier novels but his novel "The Constant Gardener" was based on the corruption within the pharmaceutical industry. His latest novel "Our Kind Of Traitor" is up to the minute conspiracy and corruption between Russian criminals and powerful people in the City of London.

An outspoken critic of American foreign policy, in particular the Iraq War, Le Carre shuns awards and prizes, even refusing to be considered for the coveted Man Booker International Prize. Writing his novels is enough reward for him and who could dispute that his work is intriguing, exciting and absorbing?