David Cornwell, best known as spy novelist John le Carré, has died at age 89
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The writer David Cornwell, who used the pen name John le Carré to write bestselling spy thrillers including Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy and The Night Manager, has died of pneumonia, his literary agency and family confirmed Sunday. The British novelist was 89.
“It is with great sadness that I must share the news that David Cornwell, known to the world as John le Carré, passed away after a short illness (not COVID-19 related) in Cornwall on Saturday evening [Dec. 12],” Jonny Geller, CEO of the London-based Curtis Brown Group said in a statement. “He was 89. Our hearts go out to his four sons, their families and to his dear wife, Jane.
“For six decades, John le Carré dominated the bestseller lists and review pages with his monumental body of work,” the statement continued. “His dramatic launch onto the global scene began with the publication of his third novel in 1963, The Spy Who Came in from the Cold, and the public revelation of his secret life working with the British Intelligence Services. Devoting his life to writing, he went on to define the Cold War era with the help of his character, George Smiley, and through his complex plots and beautiful prose, beamed a harsh light at the injustices of our world.
“Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy came in the 1970s and its accompanying landmark TV series with Alec Guinness. The 1980s brought the novel that is often heralded as his masterpiece: A Perfect Spy. With the fall of the Berlin Wall, David’s focus extended beyond the Soviet/UK/US relations to arms dealing with The Night Manager. The first decade of the new millennium brought us The Constant Gardener, a passionate critique of Big Pharma and this current decade brought back his favorite creation, George Smiley, in A Legacy of Spies.
“His last novel, Agent Running in the Field, was published in October 2019.
“David wrote 25 novels and one volume of memoir, The Pigeon Tunnel (2016), and has sold more than 60 million copies of his work worldwide.
”His like will never be seen again, and his loss will be felt by every book lover, everyone interested in the human condition.
“We have lost a great figure of English literature, a man of great wit, kindness, humor and intelligence. I have lost a friend, a mentor and an inspiration.”
Geller also shared a brief statement from Cornwell’s family, who asked for privacy following his death.
“It is with great sadness that we must confirm that David Cornwell — John le Carré — passed away from pneumonia last Saturday night after a short battle with the illness. David is survived by his beloved wife of almost 50 years, Jane, and his sons Nicholas, Timothy, Stephen and Simon. We all grieve deeply his passing. Our thanks go to the wonderful NHS team at the Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro for the care and compassion that he was shown throughout his stay. We know they share our sadness.”
Many of Cornwell’s works were adapted for TV and film. Rachel Weisz won a Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her performance in 2005’s The Constant Gardener. Gary Oldman’s portrayal of George Smiley in 2011’s big-screen version of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy earned him a nomination for Best Actor; in 1979, Alec Guinness won a Bafta for playing the same role in a British miniseries adaptation. Tom Hiddleston, meanwhile, took home a Golden Globe for his leading role in 2016’s The Night Manager limited series.
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