, Columnist
John Le Carré's Novels Were More Than Spy Thrillers
Self-delusion and plodding ordinariness made for memorable heroes.
British best-selling author John le Carre.
Photographer: Christian Charisius/picture alliance via Getty ImagesJohn Le Carré, who died this week, was one of those rare writers who transcends his genre. His books were about spies, especially British ones. But his best novels were full-blown masterworks that explored enduring themes like betrayal, illusion and (his favorite) late middle age. Since hitting middle age myself, I’ve re-read his three greatest novels in every year.
The appeal of Le Carré’s writing can be hard to state simply, because in some sense it is really an anti-appeal. His characters might be spies, but they aren’t dashing or handsome. They don’t take heroic action or engage in leaps of faith. Le Carré’s characters plod.