Once you've lived the inside-out world of espionage, you never shed it. It's a mentality, a double standard of existence. John le Carre doubleespionageexistence Change image and share on social
I don't know whether it's age or maturity, but I certainly find myself committed more and more to the looser forms of Western democracy at any price. John le Carre agecommitdemocracy Change image and share on social
I think I'm in the same mood as ever, but in some ways more mature. I guess you could say that, at 65, when you've seen the world shape up as I have, there are only two things you can do: laugh or kill yourself. John le Carre guesshavekill share on social
Every writer knows he is spurious; every fiction writer would rather be credible than authentic. John le Carre authenticcrediblefiction Change image and share on social
I am still making order out of chaos by reinvention. John le Carre chaosmakeorder Change image and share on social
The merit of 'The Spy Who Came in from the Cold,' then - or its offence, depending where you stood - was not that it was authentic, but that it was credible. John le Carre authenticcoldcredible Change image and share on social
Completing a book, it's a little like having a baby. John le Carre babybookcomplete Change image and share on social
'The Spy Who Came in from the Cold' was the work of a wayward imagination brought to the end of its tether by political disgust and personal confusion. John le Carre bringcoldconfusion Change image and share on social
I remain terrified of the capacity of the media, the capacity of spin doctors, here and abroad, particularly the United States media, to perpetuate false lies, perpetuate lies. John le Carre abroadcapacitydoctor Change image and share on social
You have no idea how humiliating it was, as a boy, to suddenly have all your clothes, your toys, snatched by the bailiff. I mean we were a middle-class family, it's not as if it was happening up and down the street. It made me ashamed, I felt dirty. John le Carre ashamedbailiffboy share on social
