John le Carre vs. Ian Fleming

This episode I welcome back author and Bond expert Jeremy Duns to tackle the “le Carré or Fleming?” debate from a different angle: what they thought of each other.

We talk generational differences (Fleming shaped by WWII, le Carré by Cold War service.) We read an Allen Dulles interview where Fleming praises The Spy Who Came in from the Cold as “a very, very fine spy story,” while lamenting that it drains the romance and fun.

Then we unpack le Carré’s 1966 TV chat with Malcolm Muggeridge, where le Carré dismisses Bond as apolitical “low magic” and more gangster than spy, and Jeremy argues le Carré was partly performing for Muggeridge.

Plus Jeremy recommends some Fleming for le Carré fans.

All that and more in this episode!

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Jeremy’s twitter – @JeremyDuns

Jeremy’s Website – Jeremy-Duns.com

John le Carré speaks with Martin Muggeridge for Intimations program in 1966.