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

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 into the essential elements of le Carré’s works, Gainham’s life and career, and especially her novel The Tiger, Life.

The discussion explores Gainham’s intricate plotting, authentic depictions of Cold War espionage, and her personal experiences that shaped her stories. The episode wraps up with intriguing insights into the realities of spy life and the dynamic between Gainham and her contemporaries.

All that and more in this episode.

00:00 Welcome to the le Carré Cast

00:38 Introducing ‘After le Carré’

00:48 Guest Introduction: Jeremy Duns

01:01 Defining a le Carré Novel

03:21 Spotlight on Sarah Gainham

06:24 Sarah Gainham’s Life and Career

09:30 Exploring Gainham’s Spy Novels

16:22 The Tiger, Life: Gainham’s Masterpiece

23:41 Debating Book Titles and Their Impact

26:33 Exploring the Novel’s Setting and Characters

28:23 Autobiographical Elements and Espionage

30:02 Complex Relationships and Character Analysis

39:38 Real-Life Inspirations and Historical Context

44:29 Conclusion and Upcoming Episodes

Jeremy’s twitter – @JeremyDuns

Jeremy’s Website – Jeremy-Duns.com

Jeff’s site – SpyWrite.com

Jeff’s twitter – @spywrite

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 five letters from the recently released book. We talk about the letters as well as a bit about what else the estate may end up releasing. All that and more in this episode!

Steven’s Top Five John le Carré Letters

5. Le Carré’s letter to pharma execs following the release of The Constant Gardener.

4. Le Carré’s letter to Tom Stoppard answering the question of just why he shelved his posthumously released novel Silverview.

3. Le Carré’s letter on his approach to writing his novel A Legacy of Spies.

2. Le Carré’s letter to his wife and sons looking at his past family relationships.

Bonus Letter – Le Carré talks about writing another Smiley post Legacy.

1. A writer puts down his pen

Others letters we discuss touch on his relationship with his stepmother, his care about his work and readers, and the proper spelling of his pen name.

Get a letter of your own from me. Email your address to lecarrecast [at] gmail [dot] com and I will send a spy letter of your very own.

Interact with Steven and other spy fans on the Spybrary Facebook discussion group – https://www.spybrary.com/facebook

Jeff’s site – SpyWrite.com

Jeff’s twitter – @spywrite

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 episode.

Clarissa’s Website – https://thestoneandthestar.blogspot.com/

Clarissa’s Twitter – https://x.com/stoneandthestar

Jeff’s site – SpyWrite.com

Jeff’s twitter – @spywrite

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 Standish from Mick Herron’s ‘Slough House’ series. The conversation highlights the novel’s exploration of complex characters, long-term espionage strategies, and critiques of American actions post-9/11. We also discuss the film adaptation’s strengths and weaknesses, particularly praising its ending and Hoffman’s portrayal of the main character. Additionally, we speculate about a new TV adaptation of the novel for German television and its potential impact. The episode closes with a personal anecdote from Clarissa related to the novel.

All that and more in this episode.

Ernst Barlach Haus, the museum Clarissa mentioned from the book – https://www.barlach-haus.de/

Clarissa’s Website – https://thestoneandthestar.blogspot.com/

Clarissa’s Twitter – https://x.com/stoneandthestar

Jeff’s site – SpyWrite.com

Jeff’s twitter – @spywrite

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 The Looking Glass War while highlighting Shaun’s eclectic career, including his involvement in the ‘Lord of the Rings’ musical. Sean also shares insights on the enduring appeal of audio drama in the UK and his current and upcoming projects.

Our previous look at The Smiley Radio Dramas can be found here –

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

00:46 Meet Shaun McKenna: The Adaptation Maestro

02:37 Shaun’s Journey into Audio Drama

04:13 The Smiley Radio Dramas: A Deep Dive

06:13 Challenges and Triumphs in Adaptation

08:39 The Art of Radio Drama

16:06 Capturing the Essence of le Carré

23:56 The Joys and Challenges of Radio Drama

26:11 The Decline of Radio Drama in the UK

28:48 A Writer’s Journey: From Actor to Adaptation Specialist

33:12 The Legacy of John le Carré’s Smiley Series

38:56 Reviving The Lord of the Rings Musical

41:20 Upcoming Projects and Final Thoughts

Shaun McKenna’s Website – ShaunMcKenna.me

The Lord of the Rings World Tour

The Lord of the Rings in Chicago

The Forsyte Saga

Homefront Radio Drama

Jeff’s site – SpyWrite.com

Jeff’s twitter – @spywrite