The le Carré Cast - A podcast on John le Carré novels

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Exploring the works of John le Carré, each episode looks at a specific novel or an unexplored aspect of his life and work. Join us as we take a deep dive into the world of espionage John le Carré has revealed.

The le Carre Cast


    • Jun 2, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • every other week NEW EPISODES
    • 43m AVG DURATION
    • 65 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from The le Carré Cast - A podcast on John le Carré novels

    High Church/Low Church – An explainer

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 2, 2025 9:57


    In this mini episode, Mark Meynell returns to explain just what that whole High Church/Low Church concept discussed in A Murder of Quality is about. Mark explains the historical and social distinctions between the two, detailing how Anglicanism and its relationship with non-conformist denominations shaped British society and class systems over time. He also touches […]

    A Legacy of Spies by John le Carre Explored – Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later May 26, 2025 44:26


    In the latest episode of the le Carré Cast, host Jeff continues his discussion with Mark Meynell about the themes and narrative intricacies of John le Carré's A Legacy of Spies. The conversation explores how le Carré revisits and deconstructs the world and characters he created in The Spy Who Came in From the Cold, […]

    A Legacy of Spies by John le Carre Explored – Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later May 12, 2025 45:30


    In this episode of the le Carré Cast, host Jeff speaks with Mark Meynell, a freelance writer and author of ten non-fiction books, about his transition to writing fiction and his recent book, ‘A Wilderness of Mirrors.’ The discussion covers Mark's discovery of John le Carré's works, particularly A Legacy of Spies. They delve into […]

    Interview – Nick Harkaway on Upcoming le Carre Projects

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 28, 2025 39:57


    In part two of my discussion with Sleeper Beach novelist Nick Harkaway we discuss the latest in le Carré news. Nick talks about the upcoming adaptation of one of his novels into an Amason Prime show Kill Jackie, season 2 of The Night Manager and an update about the new comic series, The Circus: Losing […]

    Interview – Nick Harkaway on Sleeper Beach

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 14, 2025 41:59


    In this episode I am pleased to welcome back novelist Nick Harkaway. We discuss his latest work, Sleeper Beach, the second in his Titanium Noir series of futuristic mysteries. We talk about his earlier nonfiction book The Blind Giant, how we should be using technologies, and what does it mean when tech companies turn un-Evil. […]

    Tod Hoffman on le Carré’s Landscape

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 31, 2025 66:21


    In this episode I welcome Tod Hoffman, author of Le Carré Landscape, to the show. Tod is a former Canadian Intelligence Officer and used that knowledge to write his insightful book looking at le Carré’s work. We discuss le Carré’s use of interrogation in his novels, slow moving bureaucracy versus moving quickly and his decision […]

    Legacy of Spies TV series – Emergency Podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 15, 2025 41:16


    In this episode we break down the news of a new George Smiley TV series – Legacy of Spies. I have TV and Film expert Matthew Bradford on to talk through what we know and might expect to come. We talk about the long gestating project, producers, and casting. All that and much more in […]

    Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy – 50 years, 50 facts – 1 to 10

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 17, 2025 40:27


    In this episode we are celebrating 50 years of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy by counting up to 50 interesting things about the book. For numbers one to ten I’m welcoming Matthew Bradford back to the podcast. We talk that iconic cover, opening line and dig into the mystery of who the novel was dedicated to. […]

    Ben H. Winters on reading John le Carre

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 4, 2025 53:27


    In this episode I speak to author Ben H. Winters about his Crime Reads article “In Praise of Reading Le Carré’s Entire Oeuvre In Order”. We talk about the joys of reading an author’s work from start to finish, the connection between author and reader as well as The Looking Glass War as The Bad […]

    Karla’s Choice by Nick Harkaway Explored Part Two

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 20, 2025 42:19


    In this episode we continue to look at Nick Harkaway’s 2024 George Smiley novel, Karla’s Choice. You can find part one here. Steven Ritterman, le Carré expert and collector, returns to talk through what we thought about this new Smiley novel. Plus, an exclusive discussion with Nick Harkaway about Karla’s choice. All that and much […]

    Karla’s Choice by Nick Harkaway Explored Part One

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 9, 2025 46:15


    In this episode we look at Nick Harkaway’s 2024 George Smiley novel, Karla’s Choice. Steven Ritterman, le Carré expert and collector, joins me to talk through all of our thoughts on this Smiley continuation novel. We talk reference Jurassic Park’s famous quote “Your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn’t stop to think if […]

    The le Carre Cast 2024 recap

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 26, 2024 62:59


    In this episode I’ve pulled some of my favorite clips from shows this past year. If you missed an episode or enjoyed the shows from this past year, I think you’ll enjoy it. Listen in for the cream of the crop! Dominic Sandbrook on le Carré Paul French on The Honourable Schoolboy Mac Rodgers on […]

    The Great Blurb Scandal

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 23, 2024 16:14


    This episode the le Carré Cast delves into the world of true crime with a look at one of the strangest moments in le Carré’s literary history. You won’t read about this one in Sisman’s biography! Settle in for the case of the fake blurbs. Further Reading Sources used to write this post are below. […]

    Absolute Friends by John le Carré Explored Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 9, 2024 43:05


    In this episode we continue to look at John le Carré’s 2003 novel, Absolute Friends. Shane Whaley, host of the Spybrary podcast, is back to break down all of the action in this novel. We talk about the dramatic end of the novel, Mundy and Sasha’s motives and talk about the dangers of entrapment. Plus, […]

    Absolute Friends by John le Carré Explored Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 9, 2024 43:05


    In this episode we continue to look at John le Carré’s 2003 novel, Absolute Friends. Shane Whaley, host of the Spybrary podcast, is back to break down all of the action in this novel. We talk about the dramatic end of the novel, Mundy and Sasha’s motives and talk about the dangers of entrapment. Plus, […]

    Absolute Friends by John le Carré Explored Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 26, 2024 45:25


    In this episode we look at John le Carré’s 2003 novel, Absolute Friends. Shane Whaley, host of the Spybrary podcast joins the show to look at We talk about the enigma that is Absolute Friends lead character Ted Mundy. How many trips over the wall does it take to get a gold watch from MI6? […]

    Interview – David Eldridge on The Spy Who Came in from the Cold Stage Play

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 12, 2024


    Donate to #TeamEvie and the Literally Healing program at the Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles. Go to TinyURL.com/giveTE to make a monetary donation to the Literally Healing program or go to TinyURL.com/TeamE24, pick a book and make sure to pick Team Evie as the shipping location. That's so much for your support. In this episode […]

    Interview – Duane & Meredith Swierczynski on #TeamEvie

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 28, 2024


    Donate to #TeamEvie and the Literally Healing program at the Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles. Go to TinyURL.com/giveTE to make a monetary donation to the Literally Healing program or go to TinyURL.com/TeamE24, pick a book and make sure to pick Team Evie as the shipping location. That's so much for your support. In this episode […]

    Interview – Nick Harkaway on Karla’s Choice

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 22, 2024


    Donate to #TeamEvie and the Literally Healing program at the Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles. Go to TinyURL.com/giveTE to make a monetary donation to the Literally Healing program or go to TinyURL.com/TeamE24, pick a book and make sure to pick Team Evie as the shipping location. That's so much for your support. In this episode […]

    The Honourable Schoolboy by John le Carré Explored Part 3

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 14, 2024


    In this episode we continue our look at John le Carré’s 1977 novel, The Honourable Schoolboy. Find Part 1 here and Part 2 here. Writer Paul French returns to the show for our epic finale looking at The Honourable Schoolboy. We talk more about the politics of Southeast Asia in the 1970’s, Jeff throws out […]

    The Honourable Schoolboy by John le Carré Explored Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 30, 2024


    In this episode we continue our look at John le Carré’s 1977 novel, The Honourable Schoolboy. Find Part 1 here. Writer Paul French returns to the show to share his extensive knowledge of China and Hong Kong. We talk about the political background surrounding China and the UK when THS was written, the Ko brothers, […]

    The Honourable Schoolboy by John le Carré Explored Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 17, 2024


    In this episode we begin our look at John le Carré’s 1977 novel, The Honourable Schoolboy. I’m pleased to welcome writer Paul French to the show. Paul has extensive knowledge of China and Hong Kong and is the perfect person to discuss this particular novel. We talk about where le Carré got his ideas for […]

    After le Carré: Jonathan Ray on Sarah Gainham

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 2, 2024


    Part 1 can be found here. Part 2 can be found here. We delve into the fascinating life of the enigmatic author Sarah Gainham, also known as Rachel Ames, with her godson Jonathan Ray, a drinks editor for The Spectator. We explore Rachel’s mysterious persona, her connections with spies and diplomats, and her life as […]

    spectators le carr jonathan ray
    After le Carré: Sarah Gainham Explored Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 26, 2024


    Part 1 can be found here. We are back with part 2 of this look at the novelist Sarah Gainham. I continue to be joined in the discussion with writer Jeremy Duns. The episode begins with a recounting of a passage from ‘The Stone Roses,’ one of Gainham’s novels. We then discuss several of Gainham’s […]

    After le Carré: Sarah Gainham Explored Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 19, 2024


    Discovering Sarah Gainham: Unveiling the Overlooked Cold War Novelist In this episode of the le Carré Cast, we introduce a new feature – ‘After le Carré,’ spotlighting authors beyond John le Carré. Jeff welcomes back Jeremy Duns, writer and spy fiction enthusiast, to discuss Sarah Gainham, a lesser-known but richly talented spy novelist. They delve […]

    In Depth with Shaun McKenna: Adapting John le Carré for Radio

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 5, 2024


    In this episode of The le Carré Cast, I interview acclaimed playwright and screenwriter Shaun McKenna. Sean discusses his journey into writing, his collaboration process for bringing le Carré’s complex characters to life on BBC Radio 4, and the challenges of adapting intricate novels for audio. about his adaptation of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy and […]

    A Most Wanted Man by John Carré Explored Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 22, 2024


    In this episode we continue our look at John le Carré’s 2008 novel, A Most Wanted Man. I’m pleased to welcome back poet Clarissa Aykroyd to the show. If you missed Part 1, you can find it here. We talk about parallels between the novel’s characters and another famous spy duo, Jackson Lamb and Catherine […]

    A Most Wanted Man by John Carré Explored Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 15, 2024


    In this episode we look at John le Carré’s 2008 novel, A Most Wanted Man. I’m pleased to welcome poet Clarissa Aykroyd to the show. We talk through the motivations of the various players, whether le Carré succeeded at creating fully realized characters and le Carré’s difficult writing women. All that and more in this […]

    Tinker at 50 w/ Dominic Sandbrook

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 24, 2024


    In this episode of the Le Carré Cast, Jeff interviews British historian Dominic Sandbrook. They delve into Sandbrook's introduction to John le Carré’s works, particularly Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, and discuss the author’s literary impact and historical context. The conversation covers le Carré's influence during Britain’s 1970s cultural and political landscape, along with Sandbrook’s personal […]

    The BBC George Smiley Radio Dramas with Mac Rogers – Part 3

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 10, 2024


    I’m excited to welcome back Mac Rogers, playwright and audio dramatist for the epic conclusion of our look at the BBC George Smiley radio dramas. In this third and final part we dig into The Honourable Schoolboy, Smiley’s People and The Secret Pilgrim. The best way to find a corpse, how stories differ when told […]

    The BBC George Smiley Radio Dramas with Mac Rogers – Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later May 28, 2024


    I’m excited to welcome back Mac Rogers, playwright and audio dramatist to continue to discuss the BBC George Smiley radio dramas. In this second of three parts we dig into some of the biggest of le Carré’s novels – The Spy Who Came in from the Cold and Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy. Plus we discuss […]

    The BBC George Smiley Radio Dramas with Mac Rogers

    Play Episode Listen Later May 12, 2024 56:26


    This episode I am pleased to welcome Mac Rogers, playwright and audio dramatist to discuss the BBC George Smiley radio dramas. In this first part we talk about Mac’s journey to writing for audio, reading le Carré and listening to the audio drams. Plus we dive into aspects of the audio format and the first […]

    Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy and Shabby 70’s London Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 26, 2023 41:24


    This episode I return with Phil Tinline and Bernard Hughes. We continue discussing Phil’s article in the New Statesman on the London of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy by John le Carré and how it’s different from the London of today. Topics include the le Carré and conspiracies, a discussion of Adam Sisman’s latest book, and […]

    Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy and Shabby 70’s London Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 4, 2023 44:03


    This episode I’m excited to welcome Phil Tinline and Bernard Hughes to the show. We discuss Phil’s article in the New Statesman on the London of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy by John le Carré and how it’s different from the London of today. Topics include the political background of Tinker, whether Tinker was a case […]

    Adam Sisman on The Secret Life of John le Carré – Interview

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 21, 2023 62:27


    This episode I’m excited to welcome John le Carré’s biographer Adam Sisman to the show. We discuss his latest book The Secret Life of John le Carré which looks at le Carré affairs which Sisman left out of his previous biography. Topics include why Sisman felt he needed to write this new book, the push […]

    A Private Spy: The letters of John le Carré Explored Part 3

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 6, 2023 61:19


    We continue our three part look at A Private Spy: The letters of John le Carré edited by Tim Cornwell. In part 3 we’ll be talking about what we learned about le Carré’s novels. Returning to discuss the book is Guillam groupie, Matthew Bradford., we discuss le Carrê on James Bond, The Night Manager adapations, […]

    A Private Spy: The letters of John le Carré Explored Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 22, 2023 48:09


    We continue our three part look at A Private Spy: The letters of John le Carré edited by Tim Cornwell. In part 2 we’ll be talking about what we learned about le Carré’s professional life. Returning to discuss the book is Circus cognoscente, Matthew Bradford. We discuss le Carré’s feudin’ and fightin’ with critics and […]

    A Private Spy: The letters of John Carré Explored Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 8, 2023 44:59


    We’ll be taking a three part look at A Private Spy: The letters of John le Carré edited by Tim Cornwell. In this episode we’ll be talking about what we learned about le Carré’s personal life. Returning to the podcast to discuss the book is living le Carré encyclopedia Matthew Bradford. We discuss whether the […]

    Single and Single by John Carré Explored Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 27, 2023 54:23


    In this episode we continue our look at John le Carré’s 1999 novel, Single and Single. Returning to discuss the book is espionage and nonfiction author Adam Brookes. We discuss Adam’s interactions with shady Russians in the 90’s, why le Carré just can’t quit Russia, and that wild ending. Plus, is there such a thing […]

    Single and Single by John Carré Explored Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 11, 2023 61:41


    In this episode we look at John le Carré’s 1999 novel, SIngle and Single. Joining me to discuss the book is espionage and nonfiction author Adam Brookes. We discuss Adam’s first encounters with le Carré, the British boarding school system and tropes seen in le Carré’s female characters? Plus, whether the first chapter of the […]

    Secret And Beyond – Political Thrillers with Frank Sennett

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 27, 2023


    Frank Sennett joins the show to talk about political thrillers and Mick Herron and John le Carré. We talk about US versus UK spy novels, Matt Helm, and favorite Herron and le Carré novels. Plus we talk about how to write politics in fiction without alienating readers and how one author used the nuclear option […]

    Guillam Coffee and Abdelraham Fathalla – Interview

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 10, 2023


    We raised $1300 for Room to Read this holiday season. Thanks to everyone who donated. If you still wanted to donate, go here or share the link – http://tinyurl.com/spiesread We are back with a interview with founder of Guillam Coffee and le Carré superfan Abdelrahman Fathalla. We talk about why he named his business after […]

    Secret and Beyond – John le Carré’s battle with book titles

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 1, 2023


    Donate to Room to Read here or share the link – http://tinyurl.com/spiesread We are back with a look at some of John le Carré’s unused book titles. These have been gathered from Adam Sisman’s biography, John le Carré: A Life, as well as a few from A Private Spy: The letters of John le Carré. […]

    Top 5 letters in A Private Spy: The Letters of John le Carré

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 6, 2022


    Donate to Room to Read here or share the link – http://tinyurl.com/spiesread We are back with a look at the new release A Private Spy: The Letters of John le Carré. I'm pleased to welcome Steven Ritterman, one of the foremost collectors of le Carré in the world, to the show. Steven reveals his top […]

    Dead Drop – Letters in Spy Fiction and Reality Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 14, 2022


    We are back with part 2 of our look at the letter in spy fiction and reality. Listen to part 1 here. We talk about the novel to read if you want to imagine you’re a CIA analyst, the first techno-thriller and learn about how real spies are communicating right now! All that and much […]

    John le Carré’s London

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 31, 2022


    We talk with Richard Hutt the writer of the new map titled John le Carré’s London from Herb Lester Associates. We talk about his previous map, The Secret City, reading le Carré in lockdown, the difficulties and joys in finding locations le Carré used in his novels and challenge the listener to find le Carré’s […]

    The Secret History of Spy Letters

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 16, 2022


    The book A Private Spy: The Letters of John le Carré has just been released in the UK. We’ll be taking a look at that book once it’s released in the US in December, but this is a perfect time to take a look at the usage of the humble letter in espionage. We talk […]

    A Small Town in Germany by John le Carré Explored Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 13, 2022


    In this episode we finish our look at A Small Town in Germany, John le Carré’s fifth novel. Returning to discuss the book is espionage author James Wolff. We discuss how his treatment of female characters, whether this is a Agatha Christie novel in disguise and whether this could ever be adapted for television? Plus, […]

    A Small Town in Germany by John le Carré Explored Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 29, 2022


    In this episode we look at A Small Town in Germany, the novel that comes midway between John le Carré’s breakout success – The Spy Who Came in from the Cold – and the novel that solidified his place as one of the world’s best spy novelists – Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy. I’m joined to […]

    Collecting John le Carré

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 28, 2022 73:38


    We talk with one of the foremost collectors of John le Carré novels, Steven Ritterman, whose collection of pristine le Carré editions numbers over 300 items. We learn about the Haycroft-Queen list, rare signed editions, and Steve's undercover mission to meet le Carré himself.  All that plus talk on champagne toasts with Otto Penzler, meeting Eric Ambler, […]

    The Looking-Glass War by John le Carré Explored Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later May 24, 2022


    Find Part One Here. In this episode we continue to take a deep dive into the intricacies of one of John le Carré’s most unjustly overlooked novels – The Looking-Glass War. I’m again joined by critic and author Jeremy Duns. We talk class and Britain’s role in the world, how the book could be adapted […]

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