Start / The le Carré Cast – A podcast on John le Carré novels / A legacy of spies by john le carre explored part 2

The le Carré Cast – A podcast on John le Carré novels

A Legacy of Spies by John le Carre Explored – Part 2

44 min • 26 maj 2025

In the latest episode of the le Carré Cast, host Jeff continues his discussion with Mark Meynell about the themes and narrative intricacies of John le Carré’s A Legacy of Spies.

The conversation explores how le Carré revisits and deconstructs the world and characters he created in The Spy Who Came in From the Cold, revealing the bleak and ultimately futile nature of the spy operations depicted. They discuss the nuanced portrayal of characters like George Smiley, the overarching themes of distrust and ambiguity, and the broader implications of these themes in today’s sociopolitical climate. Additionally, they consider the potential challenges and approaches for an upcoming TV adaptation of le Carré’s works.

All that and much more in this episode.

00:00 Introduction and Recap

00:36 Deflating the Victories

01:35 Questioning the Worth

02:43 Revisiting Characters and Plots

04:20 The Ruthlessness of Control

05:48 Tulip’s Exfiltration

13:20 Legacy and Conspiracies

21:13 The Haunting Legacy of Fathers

22:12 Meeting David Cornwell: A Personal Experience

23:18 The Ruthlessness of Smiley

27:06 Margaret Thatcher and the IRA

30:42 The Upcoming TV Show: Legacy of Spies

33:15 The Complexity of le Carre’s Characters

39:27 Final Thoughts and Future Projects

41:15 Podcast Promotions and Farewell

– Mark’s website

– The Met Police undercover officers scandal

– Mark’s bookshop with le Carré books on sale

– Mark’s podcast Triptych Conversations

Jeff’s site – SpyWrite.com

Jeff’s twitter – @spywrite

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