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I can only speak for myself, but I’ve always felt he’s far more intellectually challenging than other espionage authors. I remember reading one of his books (ca
by mypastself 4y ago
I can only speak for myself, but I’ve always felt he’s far more intellectually challenging than other espionage authors. I remember reading one of his books (can’t remember exactly which, possibly The Little Drummer Girl or The Honorable Schoolboy) and realizing that every single line of dialogue in the book has multiple layers of subterfuge, double meaning, pretense, irony… Even the simplest exchange requires focus on part of the reader, which is not common for the genre.
- taude 4y agoLe Carre is definitely more on the literary side, and was likely a big influence in the history of the genre. Also, he was an actual spy, I believe at one point in his career.
- Applejinx 4y agoAll of this, yes. The thing about his characters is they all have this complex interiority that you're privy to, or semi-privy to: it makes stuff feel real. In particular if you came out of a dysfunctional family (like Le Carre did) then your tendency to dig into situations for secrets and threats? It's always rewarded with the unfolding of story and character. He writes characters SO well. They're really interesting and complicated, and the complications matter. Barley in The Russia House and his handler… there's just a lot going on, and when he throws a twist at you it's justified and supported and rings true. He's very, very good.
- queuebert 4y agoReading his books makes you feel like you are performing espionage in order to uncover the hidden plot.