John le Carre, born David John Moore Cornwell on October 19, 1931, in Poole, Dorset, England, is a highly acclaimed English author best known for his espionage novels. Le Carre is a pen name he adopted early in his career, which he used to keep his writing and spy life separate. He began writing in the early 1960s, and his works have since become some of the most respected in the genre.
Le Carre's background in British intelligence significantly influences his writing. Prior to becoming an author, he worked as a foreign officer, which provided him with a wealth of knowledge and experience in the world of espionage. Due to his past career, he wrote under a pseudonym, unable to publish books under his real name. His spy novels differ from the classic James Bond series, as they focus more on psychological complexities than physical action. Le Carre's characters are often ambiguous and multi-dimensional, adding depth and intrigue to his stories.
Le Carre's life serves as inspiration for many of his novel's plots, giving his work a unique sense of authenticity and realism. His extensive body of work includes notable titles such as "The Spy Who Came in From the Cold," "Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy," "The Little Drummer Girl," "A Perfect Spy," "The Russia House," "Our Game," "The Tailor of Panama," and "Single & Single". He has resided in St Buryan, Cornwall, Great Britain, for over 40 years, where he owns a mile of cliff close to Land's End.