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Conversations With John le Carré
John le Carré (b. 1931) is the pen name of David Cornwell. Under that pseudonym he has become the leading writer of contemporary spy thrillers. Tremendously popular and deeply influential, his novels feature a level of psychological depth and narrative complexity that makes them as rewarding as the most highly-touted literary fiction.
Weaving incisive political commentary, razor-sharp satire, and suspense, his work reflects upon and dissects both Cold War anxieties and the complications of social relationships. Several of his novels-including The Spy Who Came in from the Cold , The Russia House , and The Tailor of Panama -have been adapted into award-winning movies.
In Conversations with John le Carré , the acclaimed writer talks about his craft, the nature of language, the literature that he loves, and the ways in which his own life influences the creation of, and characters within, his novels. He worked for the British Foreign Office in the 1960s, and although his works are dazzlingly informed about global politics, le Carré's voice is distinctively British.
His love of language, particularly the ways in which it can reveal or conceal thought and action, is evident in every piece here. In interviews with George Plimpton, Melvyn Bragg, and others, le Carré proves himself to be quick witted, engaging, and deeply passionate. Though often self-deprecating in his humor, le Carré reveals his commitment to the spy thriller and tells us why he thinks it is just as capable of exploring human consciousness as any other literary genre.
Weaving incisive political commentary, razor-sharp satire, and suspense, his work reflects upon and dissects both Cold War anxieties and the complications of social relationships. Several of his novels-including The Spy Who Came in from the Cold , The Russia House , and The Tailor of Panama -have been adapted into award-winning movies.
In Conversations with John le Carré , the acclaimed writer talks about his craft, the nature of language, the literature that he loves, and the ways in which his own life influences the creation of, and characters within, his novels. He worked for the British Foreign Office in the 1960s, and although his works are dazzlingly informed about global politics, le Carré's voice is distinctively British.
His love of language, particularly the ways in which it can reveal or conceal thought and action, is evident in every piece here. In interviews with George Plimpton, Melvyn Bragg, and others, le Carré proves himself to be quick witted, engaging, and deeply passionate. Though often self-deprecating in his humor, le Carré reveals his commitment to the spy thriller and tells us why he thinks it is just as capable of exploring human consciousness as any other literary genre.
- GenresNonfiction
198 pages, Paperback
First published December 2, 2004
1 person is currently reading
88 people want to read
About the author
Matthew J. Bruccoli
331 books39 followersMatthew Joseph Bruccoli was an American professor of English at the University of South Carolina. He was the preeminent expert on F. Scott Fitzgerald. He also wrote about writers such as Ernest Hemingway, Thomas Wolfe and John O'Hara, and was editor of the 'Dictionary of Literary Biography'.
Bruccoli's interest in Fitzgerald began in 1947 when he heard a radio broadcast of Fitzgerald's short story 'The Diamond as Big as the Ritz'. That week he tracked down a copy of 'The Great Gatsby', "and I have been reading it ever since," he told interviewers. Bruccoli graduated from the Bronx High School of Science in 1949, and studied at Cornell University where one of his professors was Vladimir Nabokov and at Yale University where he was a founder member of the fledgling Manuscript Society, graduating in 1953. He was awarded a master's degree and doctorate from the University of Virginia in 1960. Bruccoli, who also taught at the University of Virginia and the Ohio State University, spent nearly four decades teaching at the University of South Carolina. He lived in Columbia, South Carolina, where, according to his New York Times obituary, he "cut a dash on campus, instantly recognizable by his vintage red Mercedes convertible, Brooks Brothers suits, Groucho mustache and bristling crew cut that dated to his Yale days. His untamed Bronx accent also set him apart" (Grimes).
Over the course of his career, he authored over 50 books on F. Scott Fitzgerald and other literary figures. His 1981 biography of Fitzgerald, Some 'Sort of Epic Grandeur: The Life of F. Scott Fitzgerald', is considered the standard Fitzgerald biography. He has edited many of Fitzgerald's works, from 'This Side of Paradise' to Fitzgerald's unfinished final novel, 'The Love of the Last Tycoon'. Bruccoli has also edited Scott's wife Zelda Fitzgerald's only novel 'Save Me the Waltz'.
While studying Fitzgerald, Bruccoli and his wife Arlyn began to collect all manner of Fitzgerald memorabilia. Bruccoli owned the artist's copy of Celestial Eyes, the cover art by Francis Cugat which appeared on the first edition, and most modern editions, of The Great Gatsby. In 1969, Bruccoli befriended F. Scott and Zelda's daughter Frances "Scottie" Fitzgerald. In 1976, Bruccoli and the Fitzgeralds' daughter Scottie (as Scottie Fitzgerald Smith) published The Romantic Egoists, from the scrapbooks that F. Scott and Zelda had maintained throughout their lives of photographs and book reviews. Later in life Bruccoli and his wife donated their collection to the Thomas Cooper Library at USC. The collection is valued at nearly $2 million.
Bruccoli was general editor of the 'Pittsburgh Series in Bibliography', published by the University of Pittsburgh Press. As part of this series, he produced 'F. Scott Fitzgerald: A Descriptive Bibliography' and, with Richard Layman, 'Ring W. Lardner: A Descriptive Bibliography' (1976). A working draft of the Lardner book was prepared in the summer of 1973 by Bruccoli.
Along with Richard Layman, a Dashiell Hammett scholar and former graduate assistant, and businessman C. E. Frazer Clark, Jr., Bruccoli launched the 'Dictionary of Literary Biography'. The 400-volume reference work contains biographies of more than 12,000 literary figures from antiquity to modern times.
Bruccoli continued working at the University of South Carolina until being diagnosed with a brain tumor, and died June 4, 2008.
Bruccoli's interest in Fitzgerald began in 1947 when he heard a radio broadcast of Fitzgerald's short story 'The Diamond as Big as the Ritz'. That week he tracked down a copy of 'The Great Gatsby', "and I have been reading it ever since," he told interviewers. Bruccoli graduated from the Bronx High School of Science in 1949, and studied at Cornell University where one of his professors was Vladimir Nabokov and at Yale University where he was a founder member of the fledgling Manuscript Society, graduating in 1953. He was awarded a master's degree and doctorate from the University of Virginia in 1960. Bruccoli, who also taught at the University of Virginia and the Ohio State University, spent nearly four decades teaching at the University of South Carolina. He lived in Columbia, South Carolina, where, according to his New York Times obituary, he "cut a dash on campus, instantly recognizable by his vintage red Mercedes convertible, Brooks Brothers suits, Groucho mustache and bristling crew cut that dated to his Yale days. His untamed Bronx accent also set him apart" (Grimes).
Over the course of his career, he authored over 50 books on F. Scott Fitzgerald and other literary figures. His 1981 biography of Fitzgerald, Some 'Sort of Epic Grandeur: The Life of F. Scott Fitzgerald', is considered the standard Fitzgerald biography. He has edited many of Fitzgerald's works, from 'This Side of Paradise' to Fitzgerald's unfinished final novel, 'The Love of the Last Tycoon'. Bruccoli has also edited Scott's wife Zelda Fitzgerald's only novel 'Save Me the Waltz'.
While studying Fitzgerald, Bruccoli and his wife Arlyn began to collect all manner of Fitzgerald memorabilia. Bruccoli owned the artist's copy of Celestial Eyes, the cover art by Francis Cugat which appeared on the first edition, and most modern editions, of The Great Gatsby. In 1969, Bruccoli befriended F. Scott and Zelda's daughter Frances "Scottie" Fitzgerald. In 1976, Bruccoli and the Fitzgeralds' daughter Scottie (as Scottie Fitzgerald Smith) published The Romantic Egoists, from the scrapbooks that F. Scott and Zelda had maintained throughout their lives of photographs and book reviews. Later in life Bruccoli and his wife donated their collection to the Thomas Cooper Library at USC. The collection is valued at nearly $2 million.
Bruccoli was general editor of the 'Pittsburgh Series in Bibliography', published by the University of Pittsburgh Press. As part of this series, he produced 'F. Scott Fitzgerald: A Descriptive Bibliography' and, with Richard Layman, 'Ring W. Lardner: A Descriptive Bibliography' (1976). A working draft of the Lardner book was prepared in the summer of 1973 by Bruccoli.
Along with Richard Layman, a Dashiell Hammett scholar and former graduate assistant, and businessman C. E. Frazer Clark, Jr., Bruccoli launched the 'Dictionary of Literary Biography'. The 400-volume reference work contains biographies of more than 12,000 literary figures from antiquity to modern times.
Bruccoli continued working at the University of South Carolina until being diagnosed with a brain tumor, and died June 4, 2008.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
May 21, 2017
Bottom Line First:
If you are a John le Carre fan, this is a must read. If you are a student of the interview this is a great study.
This book is one of a series of books that include interviews with well known authors. A brief look for "Literary Conversations" reveal many titles that cover writers from Susan Sontag to Bernard Malamud to Chaim Potok to Joseph Heller and many more.
As such these books operate on at least two levels. If you aspire to interview as a profession, here are some of the best.
If you are a fan of , in this case Bernard Cornwall/John le Carre' here he is in his own words.
I am a fan of le Carre going back several decades. I had some general idea of his biography and more than some idea of what his books are about. In this collection the reader can have fun learning the about the man. Part of the fun of this collection is that it is in date order and crosses 42 years of le Carre`'s career.
Much like his books there are flirtations and gradual reveals. What was his real role in British Intelligence? Who and what was his father? How much of his works are total fiction and how much biography? Did he invent the language of spying or steal it? What drives a man to take on the conspicuous consumption, lady's man spy James Bond and give us George Smiley? Its all here and its always your decision how much to believe and how much is deliberate misdirection.
To be fair one must acknowledge the editors. In their introduction they correctly remind the reader that as much as an interview is about the person being interviewed, it is also about the person who writes the interview. Absent this knowledge, the reader will miss at least 1/3 of what this book contains.
Also to be fair, interviews can be repetitious. John le Carre` has some canned answers and prepared evasions. Maybe there are only so many questions you can ask the master author of cold war/post cold war spy novels. Maybe the reason why good interviewers get paid is because it is hard work.
Read it one or two interviews at a time. This way it can be a break in your routine and you can re-experience the fun of learning the story of the man almost as if it were an exercise in intelligence gathering.
If you are a John le Carre fan, this is a must read. If you are a student of the interview this is a great study.
This book is one of a series of books that include interviews with well known authors. A brief look for "Literary Conversations" reveal many titles that cover writers from Susan Sontag to Bernard Malamud to Chaim Potok to Joseph Heller and many more.
As such these books operate on at least two levels. If you aspire to interview as a profession, here are some of the best.
If you are a fan of , in this case Bernard Cornwall/John le Carre' here he is in his own words.
I am a fan of le Carre going back several decades. I had some general idea of his biography and more than some idea of what his books are about. In this collection the reader can have fun learning the about the man. Part of the fun of this collection is that it is in date order and crosses 42 years of le Carre`'s career.
Much like his books there are flirtations and gradual reveals. What was his real role in British Intelligence? Who and what was his father? How much of his works are total fiction and how much biography? Did he invent the language of spying or steal it? What drives a man to take on the conspicuous consumption, lady's man spy James Bond and give us George Smiley? Its all here and its always your decision how much to believe and how much is deliberate misdirection.
To be fair one must acknowledge the editors. In their introduction they correctly remind the reader that as much as an interview is about the person being interviewed, it is also about the person who writes the interview. Absent this knowledge, the reader will miss at least 1/3 of what this book contains.
Also to be fair, interviews can be repetitious. John le Carre` has some canned answers and prepared evasions. Maybe there are only so many questions you can ask the master author of cold war/post cold war spy novels. Maybe the reason why good interviewers get paid is because it is hard work.
Read it one or two interviews at a time. This way it can be a break in your routine and you can re-experience the fun of learning the story of the man almost as if it were an exercise in intelligence gathering.
Displaying 1 of 1 review