John le Carré: An Evening with George Smiley

Writer John le Carré delves into his extraordinary Cold War novels such as 'The Spy Who Came in from the Cold' and 'Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy', as well as his iconic novels on the War on Terror in 'A Most Wanted Man', and 'A Delicate Truth'. The writing of John le Carré has come to define the last half century, with his works chronicling tales over decades of writing.
Writer John le Carré, best known for his works 'Tinker Tailer Soldier Spy' and 'The Spy Who Came in from the Cold', is a British/Irish writer whose work spans decades from the 80s to the present. Best known for his post-war era novelisation, Le Carré has been established as one of the greatest writers of their generation.
Subscribe for the latest videos: bit.ly/SBCsubsc...
Follow us on Twitter: / southbankcentre
on Instagram: / southbankce. .
and Facebook: / southbankcentre
John le Carré: An Evening with George Smiley
/ southbankcentre
#JohnleCarré #SouthbankCentre #TinkerTailerSoldierSpy #Author #Novels #PostWarEra

[@internet123ism2]

Doesn't get all the credit he deserves because of the genre. To me he's right there with Dickens.

[@Kimllg88]

hear hear

[@teddysalad5986]

Bet you’ve never read Dickens then.

[@internet123ism2]

@@teddysalad5986 actually I've read a lot of Dickens. I used his name as a quality/quantity body of work comparison.

[@sudeeptobasu620]

R.I.P. John Le Carré...The Legend.

[@jeffreythomson8068]

He speaks like he writes, with precision and every word carefully chosen.

[@adana7838]

jeffrey thomson probably because he wrote it first:)

[@galloe]

@@adana7838 Watch his interviews, he's just as eloquent in impromptu conversations.

[@adana7838]

@@galloe ok, thanks for telling me

[@ebneigh5191]

Yes. I wish this was ten hours long, not ten mins.

[@mulemule]

*I'm fervently hoping that someone reads this who can tell me where/how I can view this in its entirety.* 🙏🤞

[@Mercyme57]

Did you find out..?

[@fredhoupt4078]

lovely. Wish that I could hear the whole talk.

[@ashleyb6997]

This is simply wonderful. I first read Spy Who Came In From The Cold when I was a teenager, 50 years ago. The words flowed like treacle off the page and I have remained entranced by his work ever since. In this time of isolation I have just re-watched the Alec Guinness series, the movie of Spy Who Came In, and The Little Drummer Girl . While TV can never convey the beauty of the language, the storytelling is still entrancing. Thank you JlC for so many happy hours.

[@suemarshall6185]

His 1993 interview, whete he talks about the Secret Pilgrim and the Night Manager is excellent. Listen out at min 9 - ish for a description of what Trump plans to improve the world.

[@matthewgabbard6415]

Is it wrong to miss an enemy who was civilized? At least the Soviets had an ideological link to a great thinker. At in the early century they almost seemed like they were right until the Stalin and the illusion wore off. Isis just doesn’t measure up.

[@paulleverton9569]

I always knew that the loss of John le Carre was big but it's only been during the last month, as I've returned to reading the entire George Smiley back catalogue, once more, that I have fully realized just how massive a loss we've suffered. There's some good writers currently active but no one close to this master of the genre. Frederick Forsyth's early works were amazing - although far more action packed and optimistic than the oppressive and paranoid le Carre universe. Sadly I feel that the quality of Forsyth's work dropped off far more sharply than that of le Carre. Mick Herron can be good but I've never rated Tom Rob Smith.

[@longhaulblue]

I have trouble reading other writers. I'm always comparing them to LeCarre. His elliptical prose brings the human drama into such sharp focus in my imaginaition. It's really thrilling and unmatched.

[@paulleverton9569]

@@longhaulblue He certainly transcended the 'spy genre'. but so did Graham Greene and I recently finally got around to reading W Somerset Maugham's Ashenden stories. I was amazed by how much WSM's 1927 work had the same cynical attitude towards the intelligence services and how they exploited anyone they could benefit from. Ashenden is like a cross between an urbane [but much more realistic] James Bond type and a George Smiley intelligentsia, trying to the make the best of a bad situation.

[@danielmorlan1558]

I should love to be able to see this in its entirety. John le Carré is among my top 3 favorite authors and being contingent on my mood, takes the first place in the rotation.

[@abdulrehmanbinabbas6063]

the other two being?

[@MrAnperm]

@@abdulrehmanbinabbas6063 Dan Brown and JK Rowling

[@groovygraves2409]

@@MrAnperm ahhahahaha no you're illiterate

[@Lydioski]

He is fantastic writer, one of my favorites. When I read him I feel happy, creative, my look on things are creative. He has humor, I love him so much.

[@nickdsylva932]

How did John Le' Carre get around the Official Secrets Act?

[@georgetjn]

I could listen to this man all day

[@jeffbricmont2456]

Is there anywhere this can be seen in it's entirety today???

[@king2real1]

Wonderful story teller and creator of the one and only Mr. George Smiley. His Cold War novels will always be the benchmark.

[@mi6hq115]

If you're interested in George Smiley, this anecdote may be of interest. John le Carré described Ben Macintyre's fact based novel, The Spy and The Traitor, as "the best true spy story I have ever read". It was about Kim Philby's Russian counterpart, a KGB Colonel named Oleg Gordievsky, codename Sunbeam. In 1974 Gordievsky became a double agent working for MI6 in Copenhagen which was when Bill Fairclough aka Edward Burlington unwittingly launched his career as a secret agent for MI6. Fairclough and le Carré knew of each other: le Carré had even rejected Fairclough's suggestion in 2014 that they collaborate on a book. As le Carré said at the time, "Why should I? I've got by so far without collaboration so why bother now?" A realistic response from a famous expert in fiction in his eighties! Gordievsky never met Fairclough, but he did know Fairclough's handler, Colonel Alan McKenzie aka Colonel Alan Pemberton. It is little wonder therefore that in Beyond Enkription, the first fact based novel in The Burlington Files espionage series, genuine double agents, disinformation and deception weave wondrously within the relentless twists and turns of evolving events. Beyond Enkription is set in 1974 in London, Nassau, Port au Prince and the Americas. Edward Burlington, a far from boring accountant, unwittingly started working for Alan McKenzie in MI6 and later worked eyes wide open for the CIA. What happens is so exhilarating and bone chilling it makes one wonder why bother reading espionage fiction when facts are so much more breathtaking. Len Deighton and Mick Herron could be forgiven for thinking they co-wrote the raw noir anti-Bond narrative, Beyond Enkription. Atmospherically it's reminiscent of Ted Lewis' Get Carter of Michael Caine fame. If anyone ever makes a film based on Beyond Enkription they'll only have themselves to blame if it doesn't go down in history as a classic espionage thriller.

[@shahzadajan9792]

RIP David Cornwell. A highly gifted writer who took his work seriously but never himself - a rarity amongst the many authors. Perhaps what is most striking is what a humane and civilised gentleman he seems to have been - not just in his writings - but in his public appearances. He said once, "And by and large, I would always now do my best to put humanity first and duty second."

[@Nately22]

A giant amongst the literary world, and for me an absolute British icon. One of my favourite authors. I'll be re-reading his books and toasting his life as a writer.

[@alainbonneau3784]

Pour moi,c est un maître

[@Northcountry1926]

C’est vrai

[@alainbonneau3784]

Il m a souvent inspiré

[@jeffreythomson2979]

John Le Carre talks like he writes--or, even better, maybe he writes like he speaks.

[@llyr24]

I was privileged to be there that night. Wonderful evening.

[@alandmcleod5988]

Awesome language he uses. I see vividly in video his words describing F4...wonderful wonderful

[@TheLightofAniu]

I saw this in the cinema, and I could not take my attention away from it. I was absorbed in it, the history, the stories, the voice and the world in which he worked and worked about. Thanks for posting this excerpt. It was amazing

[@cfytcf]

TheLightofAniu When was it broadcast to cinemas?

[@ovaisnaqvi1965]

I wish I was more like him. He epitomises exactly what England has lost: honour, honesty, clarity, sacrifice, resolve.

[@MrAnperm]

Nothing epitomises England more than Empirialism. Something Le Carre was staunchly against.

[@justwhenyouthought6119]

@@MrAnperm What a narrow minded, petty viewpoint to have. Something JLC was also against.

[@mindblows8077]

We all know what England was or is... A damp shifty place losing its relevance faster than the proverbial bad English breath travels in the air. While the English worship their Royals (whose ancestors were nothing but the biggest gangsters of the land), JLC will be missed by many inside and outside the perfidious Albion.

[@justwhenyouthought6119]

@@mindblows8077 Haters gonna hate

[@babybutchie]

@@MrAnperm Empirialism is not a word, sir.

[@avizmotiongrafix]

Love you for giving us George Smiley

[@ianpaternoster1396]

My favourite author of all time. I miss his writing. Favourite 3 books The Spy Who Came in From the Cold, A Perfect Spy, and A Legacy of Spies.

[@JoachimderZweite]

He is a sublime writer who gives both pleasure and pain.

[@internet123ism2]

RIP. A great writer.

[@galloe]

When he jokes about the "enormously secret" headquarters of MI-5, the same thought came to me while reading The Spy Who Came In From the Cold. George Smiley is supposed to be one of the Circus' best agents, yet everyone knows where he lives.🤣

[@shannonhalford5768]

I said it before, and I will say it again.....I miss John on earth........sheer enjoyment along with a spoon full of medicine for spy craft.....he was a true gentlemen in every sense of the word....thank-you, to his children, for sharing him with all of us, although, I can neither confirm or deny this.......Tom's VERY British future wife.....

[@ianpaternoster1396]

One of the best author's ever, wonder why he never won the Booker Prize.

[@jejedesalpes7886]

Or the Nobel Prize...

[@chrisst8922]

He's a good bloke isn't he. Some authors, artists etc won't talk about this work or that or whatever. Certainly wouldn't take the mickey out of themselves. He recognises that people are interested and goes along with that. He earn't some money but that doesn't seem to have been his motivation.

[@Francesca1510]

GREAT MAN!! GREAT WRITER!!

[@davidpescod7573]

Wonderful!

[@Mercyme57]

Intelligence, insight, inspiration…delivered with humility and a touch of real class.

[@markmalic7450]

Makes a old Man Weap....a true Hero.. thankyou C You will be never forgotten

[@AnthonyNesbitt-ob7ww]

Can imagine, David Cornwall hates everything and somehow blames you.

[@nigeldeforrest-pearce8084]

Simply Irresistible!!!! Marvelous!!!!

[@GreengrassChurch]

Wonderful

[@Johnconno]

The Curzon Street building was never used by MI5, the real HQ was ? Cornwell worked for them remember.

[@williamparker1085]

the master of the genre

[@Andr3Wild3]

Good H12: Thank You. Sincerely, AA.***

[@jimmy9013]

is the whole event available somewhere?

[@oo88oo]

Your local movie house, apparently.

[@davidpomerantz369]

I believe the event is from 2017? @@oo88oo

[@Jaieteperce]

Lo extrañamos mucho.

[@Northcountry1926]

Verdad

[@MaraLombardiGlassDesign]

a great writer

[@johnbecay6887]

wow...where is the rest of this?

[@Noid111]

I attended this in 2017. alas I had a few beers before so can't remember anything he said.

[@ennisgunns]

Supreme prose.

[@prettytse7762]

RIP////

[@alainbonneau3784]

Dommage qu il ' y ai pas la traduction française

[@teddysalad5986]

Don’t like Le Carre, but love George Smiley.

[@patriciarobinson5909]

You knew him, did you?

[@footslave4asian]

How times have changed. A mere five years ago and Mr. le Carré was so "unwoke" as to think there are "only" two sexes. LOL