John le Carre filmed interview on BBC Radio 3 Night Waves at London's Royal College of Music

In a special event recorded in front of an audience at London's Royal College of Music Anne McElvoy talks to John le Carré to celebrate the 50th anniversary of his groundbreaking Cold War espionage novel, The Spy who Came in from the Cold. It's the book which brought him international fame and which was described by Graham Greene as 'the best spy story I have ever read'. He discusses his extraordinary childhood as well as the state of Britain today, and the revelations of whistleblowers such as Edward Snowden.

[@quadropheniaguy9811]

David Cornwell became an Irish citizen before he died. What a great European and a fabulous guy.

[@johnson2joy]

100% correct

[@hasyourgulaggotplanningper2459]

Ugh - smallminded comment.

[@rickartdefoix1298]

Le Carré goes far beyond the genre. A great writer not to miss. 🆗👍🤗

[@elizabethchild4663]

An extraordinary artist; for me the delight in reading him is

[@honesty_-no9he]

He got the class system 100% spot-on.

[@evelynbaron4428]

I have only one more comment: I don't want to know the name of the interviewer; superbly self-regarding and manifestly devoid of any kind of real experience, makes me cringe. A great aspect of David Cornwall, was that he had something to say and simply worked with the posed questions. A very great man.

[@johnson2joy]

I agree, she really got up my nose....

[@klausrain111]

I think he's one of the greatest writers of the 20th century.

[@Mr.Monta77]

I think that is utter nonsense. Reminds me of fans of some half-obscure popstar claiming he is a genius. Le Carré was a writer of rather simple popular crime/spy novels and did that fairly well, especially his earlier work. The rest is very average.

[@jejedesalpes7886]

@@Mr.Monta77 Your comment shows perfectly how ignorant you are of all his work, and the book I prepare will show how an extraordinary writer he was. Comparing him to "some half-obscure popstar" is pure bullshit.

[@Mr.Monta77]

​@@jejedesalpes7886 Oh dear, I supect that your use of vulgarities reflects your upbringing? It can't have been easy in that trailer home. Perhaps it is self-evident from the crudeness of your language, but can't you at the very least try to come up with an argument? Just a tiny one?

[@Johnconno]

Hardly. 😂

[@johndoe9677]

I couldn’t agree more

[@chrissmith8526]

What an amazing man and writer

[@falconeaterf15]

Constant Gardener. Still my favourite movie.

[@TerlinguaTalkeetna]

One of my fav books

[@matthewkeating5963]

The Russia house is pretty good.

[@falconeaterf15]

@@matthewkeating5963 Sean Connery ?

[@matthewkeating5963]

@@falconeaterf15 One of his best.

[@jc6594]

Happy 85th Birthday John le Carre

[@strutherhill]

As well as unhelpfully interrupting Le Carre, she unhelpfully prevents him from speaking while she condescends to us all by explaining what 'sub-contracting' means...

[@heathastor6530]

Her agenda is she is a close friend of new labour and others

[@strutherhill]

@@heathastor6530 I suspect she may be even further to the right than that!

[@us-Bahn]

She’s so antsy to jump in, to cut off, to re-direct. JLC requires several complex sentences to answer any given question and she wasn’t prepared to listen to all of that.

[@truthscollector]

The Interwier interrupts Mr Le Carré several times in such an unpleasant way, showing not respect to him neither her own education . What a shame .

[@bronzedisease]

Le carre wasn't just a good spy fiction writer . Some of his works are genuinely good literary fiction as well.

[@juliusilori]

Vert enjoyable way to pass an hour, thank you both...

[@davidmarshall9359]

This man is an icon. What he has to say should be revered. Who is this woman who talks over him and deems it necessary to interpret questions from the audience? The behaviour of the interviewer totally distracted me from the enjoyment of listening to my hero!

[@evelynbaron2004]

Yes!!! see above reply to Janet Haney.

[@CinematicMaj]

I agree she is an obnoxious self important attention seeking hag

[@antoniosilvestro2494]

He is a traitor who persecuted British people and foreigners just because of their political beliefs. I loved his books and he was a brilliant author but that is the tributes end. His career was ended by the incomparable KIM PHILBY who was a true working class patriot.

[@groovygraves2409]

@@antoniosilvestro2494 LOL tony you must've OD'd on some strong crack you crazy old fruit

[@robertsvorinich7959]

​@@antoniosilvestro2494Yes, I concur.

[@ThetrueNickabilly]

As others have commented, the interviewer is a bit crap. She lacks warmth and engagement, and talks as if she’s presenting an argument or lecture. There’s a wealth of riches in his work, and it should be a doozy as he is very giving.

[@kathryn3390]

I'm late to the le Carre' party, and he's no longer with us, but people need to remember he is an author of entertainment, however, revealing, first, and not press for real-life political opinions. And if one does, don't put him down for them. He fairly gets his information the same way we do but owns a different perspective. I can't wait to read all his books. Now at a different age than before when I read one, I can understand them better, especially reading lots of non-fiction about those times he writes so well.

[@gugi1952]

Fully agree with Pamela. A pretentious journalist as you often find! She also does not seem to focus on what John le Carre says!

[@nigelcowie6883]

Brilliant

[@giannakis1]

I agree that Ms McElvoy, who otherwise does an excellent job at the Economist and often at the BBC, somewhat missed the mark during this interview. Nevertheless, a marvellous Le Carré was well accompanied by great reading from John Shrapnel...

[@michaelfraser5723]

SHE'S LOVELY

[@elizabethchild4663]

sorry: the psychological subtleties of his characters. and last but not least, the thrilling adventure and suspense of his spy plots.

[@honesty_-no9he]

His first comments is precisely why Baader-Meinhof existed. It was an act of rage against that reality.

[@ca7andra]

I don't like the aggressive style of interviewing, I wonder what the point of it is? The man is speaking, let him speak! The audience can make up its mind.

[@richardlitwin4046]

I think she's trying (a bit naively) to make him inculpate himself. And at his age!

[@evelynbaron2004]

This is hilarious; I was going to say this interview was better than the strident interviewer I saw before; what is it with these guys????? Moments with authors like this are precious; at best, a conversation; but these harangues are unacceptable and the author/musician/aritist/scientist etc. is always gracious and everything is hidden by that cloud that hides the person behind their celebrity. It's a shame on both sides. I hold each of these interviewers/moderators personally responsible. Like a wasp in the room.

[@busdriversprayer]

insecurity i would guess

[@powerbite92]

Le Carre was departing from the accepted groupthink: War on Terror, Invade Syria, Invade Iran, Climate Change.. and that is poison for aspiring media types who aren't journalists, they are paid servants and propagandists.

[@busdriversprayer]

He's a little like Jacob Bronowski, sometimes he likes to think before he answers a question. Definitely the wrong person to interview such a man. It's like she's working down a check list.

[@jackiecarter5193]

She is totally useless!

[@billthestinker]

She wore no nickers

[@elizabethchild4663]

sorry: the delight in reading him is my total immersion in British thought, personality and speech. Not to mention how he portrays with delicacy the

[@LLACEM]

Cornwell as a great voice wouldnt it have been great to have him as your teacher at Eaton or lecturer at Cambridge the man has charisma

[@SarahAllenHumboldt]

Anne McElvoy:.....Stop interrupting, and talking over, people you interview; it appears very rude; especially when your subject is someone as bright as John Le Carre.

[@ovaisnaqvi1965]

Pamela Maxfield bad upbringing

[@andrehb]

@@thedukeofnuts it's interesting isn't it? these career journalists, so quick to challenge someone like JP in the spirit of defending 'social justice', yet equally quick to denigrate the efforts of a whistleblower who publicized govt actions that harm people

[@powerbite92]

@@andrehb Her employers are the Economist: thats Rothschild sponsored. So badmouthing useless wars for Banks in the Middle East will have had all alarm bells ringing for. her..

[@nimium2]

Why trash the text with melodramatized readings?

[@richie8811]

+nimium2 And then, and then, and then... wooosh! Barum! Like you wouldn't believe! And then, and then, and then...

[@Retrostar619]

It's weird they didn't realise the power of the text comes from it's dryness and precision.The emotions crackle underneath.

[@stephendavis6620]

A very enjoyable interview well conducted he expressed himself beautifully...the comments against her manner her appearence John's appearence and how he should just be revered...he wouldn't agreej i thjnk...he seemed to be in excellent form.

[@davidhull1481]

He is so perceptive. His insights are still relevant however many years later this is. The interviewer was not quite as awful as some people have said, but she is rather annoying

[@andrews4070]

Interesting that she seems to skewer Le Carre's critical and accurate view of the Iraq invasion, and the fever leading to it, as supported by Britain. Ironically, before the invasion, official communiques in Britain discussed how "the facts and intelligence are being fixed around the policy." Of course, it was the invasion that broadened the theater of war contested by Al Quada, then ISIS, expanding to Syria as well. As LC says, "it is very possible to invent the enemy and make him real." And yet, that does not mean there was never a 'global terror' threat at all, just that the policies and measures need to match the actual intelligence, facts, and consequences as they were.

[@ludmillaroche9925]

Absolutely great man, sadly not with us any more. Equally absolutely awful and pretentious journalist. Remarkably how le Carre has managed to give interview in spite of her distractions.

[@blackbird5634]

2020 and this was seven years ago. Imagine the numbers of security cleared Trump's and Golf Club members with ears, and everyone whispering to each other about what's happening.

[@glynholt8631]

Who put the Babushka doll behind le Carres head? It looks like Mr. Blobby

[@chengisjaveri5940]

Interesting interviewing style, start interrupting your guest, and then never stop.

[@ovaisnaqvi1965]

Every minion wants to be a Paxman.

[@honesty_-no9he]

Paxman was never anything but an establishment servant playing a fake role.

[@cherryt8824]

Excellent reading of his books But the author's grim view of world affairs could make one depressed.

[@shokuchideirdrecarrigan7402]

Why does she keep interrupting him? And why is her mic louder?

[@andrewmakin8151]

a human of the evolved kind

[@johnscanlon3362]

what a brilliant mind interrogated by a pompous, arrogant dullard. John Le Carre has such a fluid mind and such germane comments on the world we live in that he deserved a better calibre of interviewer. She was pitiful and the reader not much better.

[@WanderingOff]

I completely agree. She doesn't listen deeply. Too busy setting bear traps, like 'what do you think of Snowden?'... then talking over his answers--- as though that is 'real' interviewing. I was affronted by her pomposity, yet he was not. A grown-up literary master interviewed by A.A. Milne's Rabbit.

[@evelynbaron4428]

I'm afraid I agree with all you said. His prose and prodigious memory and profound sense of ethics make the frame in which we were able to listen to him opprobrious but slightly ludicrous.

[@TidoTee]

le Carre is as always fascinating. The interviewer however distracts much from this. She is the worst I have ever witnessed, the absolute worst. Very disappointing.

[@noraxi5702]

why?

[@billthestinker]

She kept flashing John

[@prettytse7762]

What a (See you on Tuesday!)

[@Yowzoe]

?

[@B51608]

do brits sometimes cut their eyebrows ?

[@georgerubin8618]

Just great 49:01

[@thomaswallace479]

Seems almost adversarial with all the interuptions.

[@prettytse7762]

Lol!!!!!

[@MyPol75]

genius of spy fiction

[@LLACEM]

really good interview and liked the lady asking the questions but I wish she had worn a different skirt or dress lovely that they are it's too distracting to see her legs

[@robcochran6213]

Trim the eyebrows

[@michaelfraser5723]

IS RAEL

[@evelynbaron4428]

I don't know a family who isn't totally functional, and my sister did find a viable family/community in a 12 step program. My Dad had been very politically involved during and after WW11 as a resistance fighter in the former Yugoslavia. He was a man of 2 centuries, and naturally idiolised Pierre Elliot Trudeau: finally, the Just Society. By contrast, my mother lived in the same childhood world as David Cornwall. A Jew in Berlin, her father was a holocaust victim. For her safety, her grandfather, tolerated by Speer because of his great capabilities, hid her in plain sight, but she had a double life. Ill-treated by the people paid to safe-guard her, and on weekends, faced with the opulence required by her sociopathic grandmother with whom her grandfather, Max was perennially infatuated ...

[@SarahAllenHumboldt]

evelyn baron...you have such a interesting family history...I believe you started your post with a double negative; did you mean that you have not known a family that are totally functional?...."family" is plural, thus the use of "are".

[@purple467]

Irritating interviewer

[@MarNorMi]

She is intolerable. She wants to speak speak speak herself, to manage the program, to incessantly rephrase her own opinions.

[@Mr.Monta77]

I admire Cornwall’s earlier books, but the last ten or so, I find predictable, schoolmastery and bland. They would likely never have sold anything if it didn’t have his name on it. After every book I promised myself never to waste time on him again, but kept reading them. I regret that now.

[@tatyanamelnikoff9578]

the interviewer is fine. just doing her job. anyway, who's gonna match john le carre? she pretty much let him speak most of the time.

[@quantumfineartsandfossils2152]

18:00 repressed people invest their love in the service yeah even more when you & the service align neatly as Flannery O'Conner said everything that rises must converge

[@fishking77]

boring rude interviewer, shame. Mr le Carre was funny and great!

[@SarahAllenHumboldt]

I really did not want to have to have a prolonged view of those thighs; some things should not be seen.

[@richardlitwin4046]

Oh I thought they're a splendid pair of legs.

[@georgetjn]

Appalling woman

[@kevinhall3188]

... any opening introduction is not to be a prolonged 5th form recitation with no eye contact with guest or audience.... the topic is boring and irrelevant today..... the secret service today are just minders for vip's, commercial aides and keeping an eye on the rabble.

[@MrZakatista]

Completely inappropriate way to interview a fiction writer.

[@MrZakatista]

Interviewer is obnoxious.

[@Heather-zk5eu]

This interviewer is terrible

[@wilfredmay5231]

Lost in his works.