UK: To understand Britain, read its spy novels (The Economist)

The nature of the establishment, the agonies of decline, the complicated tug of patriotism: spy novels explore what makes Britain British, Bagehot, The Economist

From BBC Radio 4 (six days left to listen): John Le Carre: The return of master spy George Smiley

"John Le Carre's latest novel A Legacy of Spies is published on Thursday - always an anticipated event for his legions of readers. But this time it involves the return of his master spy, George Smiley.
Jim Naughtie has been speaking to the author and former spy about his writing, his own life and discovering the Stasi file kept on his father".


John le Carré on Trump: ‘Something seriously bad is happening, The Guardian - 'If people are “by instinct a befriender, a seducer and a liar, in the sense of a gentleman who lies for the good of his country” then MI6 is for you, “but think of the second half of your life because not many people have one”.'