Writers, actors and directors have paid tribute to John le Carré, the acclaimed author of literary spy novels, following his death from pneumonia aged 89.
Gary Oldman, who starred in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, wrote, “For me, John le Carre was many things. He was of course a very great author, the true ‘owner’ of the serious, adult, complicated, spy novel – he actually owned the genre… He was generous with his creativity and always a true gentleman.” Olivia Colman, who starred in The Night Manager, described him as “a charismatic, charming, dazzling man. An honour to have met him. And a terrible loss for his wonderful family.”
Margaret Atwood said the novels involving his most enduring character, George Smiley, “key to understanding the mid-20th century”, while Stephen Fry wrote “if there is a contemporary writer who’s given me richer pleasure I can’t for the moment name them.”
Historian Simon Sebag Montefiore called le Carré “the titan of English literature up there with the greats … in person, captivating and so kind and generous to me and many others.”
Stephen King called le Carré “a literary giant and a humanitarian spirit”, while Robert Harris said the news had left him “very distressed … one of the great postwar British novelists, and an unforgettable, unique character”. Adrian McKinty described Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy as “quite simply the greatest spy novel ever written” while
Writer Gary Shteyngart called him “one of the greatest and most influential writers of the 20th century, full stop,” while William Gibson wrote, “News of John Le Carre’s passing saddens me deeply. The first writer to inspire me to read more deeply of contemporary reality.”
Bestselling Brazilian author Paulo Coelho said: “John Le Carré, you were not only a great writer, but a visionary. Enjoy your new home #Rip”
“By repetition, each lie becomes an irreversible fact upon which other lies are constructed.”
— Paulo Coelho (@paulocoelho) December 13, 2020
John Le Carré, you were not only a great writer, but a visionary. Enjoy your new home #Rip pic.twitter.com/8L1FWEPhkD
Le Carré’s death was announced late on Sunday by his longtime agent Jonny Geller, CEO of the Curtis Brown Literary Agency, who described the novelist as “an undisputed giant of English literature” who “defined the cold war era and fearlessly spoke truth to power in the decades that followed.
“I have lost a mentor, an inspiration and most importantly, a friend. We will not see his like again,” he wrote in a statement.
US comedian and talk show host Seth Meyers posted a tribute calling Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy the “gold standard for espionage fiction”.
Actor Michael McKean, who starred in the film adaptation of The Night Manager, said le Carré’s life was “unparalleled”.
Armando Iannucci wrote, “Brilliant, popular, intelligent, thrilling, suspenseful, angry, original, masterful writing. Can’t be topped.”
Veteran American journalist Dan Rather said: “No writer captured the cloak and dagger subterfuge of the Cold War better … I remember a sharp mind and penetrating eyes. His work will be read for generations. May he rest in peace.”
Host of the BBC quiz show Pointless Richard Osman called him “Just the finest, wisest storyteller we had.”
So sad to hear of the death of John Le Carré. Just the finest, wisest storyteller we had. What an extraordinary career. Thank you for a lifetime of tales. https://t.co/0uym2utu4E
— Richard Osman (@richardosman) December 13, 2020
Ben Rhodes, political commentator and an Obama deputy national security adviser for strategic communications, said it was “hard to express how grateful I am for the life and work of John le Carre – singularly intelligent, thrilling, ambitious, and constantly engaged with moral questions from the individual experience to the canvas of geopolitics. Just a towering figure.”
