le Carre again

[Dod101]

I am reading the letters of John le Carre/David Cornwell edited by one of his sons. A bit nerdy and after reading it plus all his novels anyone with a good memory could probably enter Mastermind. It is an interesting and undemanding read. What I find most interesting about it is his views on so much about life and in particular how he deals with his publishers. I liked his Users Manual, a guide for Penguin, his enlistment papers as he calls them, when, quite late in his writing life, he moved to them.

Clearly from an author who knew what he wanted and a list of his likes and dislikes re publicity, interviews and so on.

He also at one point complains about the quality of paper used in hardback editions, most of which tends to go brown after a few years, a pet hate of mine and I have no doubt, other readers.

Dod

[Gerry557]

Just checked my kindle, no brown pages.

[ukmtk]

One of my favourite books of his is the Naive and Sentimental Lover. Nothing to do with spies.

[Dod101]

I recall you are a fan Dod, mentioned elsewhere on this site. I am too, having read most of the novels, but not his later stuff.

Anyway. There is a documentary / interview with him, released end of last year, called The Pigeon Tunnel. Fascinating watch for any fans. Available on AppleTV+ but probably other mediums too. Worth a watch so thought I'd mention it.

That was the title of a book he wrote quite late in his career. It was a sort of memoir. I cannot quite put my hands on it at the moment but I have it somewhere. Presumably the documentary covers the contents. Yes interesting.

Dod