The archive and exhibition give a unique insight into the working methods of the writer who shaped the modern spy novel. Featuring research, drafts, and corrections for his novels, non-fiction, and adaptations, as well as personal correspondence, the exhibition will provide a multifaceted portrait of the author’s life and creative process.
Positioning le Carré first and foremost as a writer who worked briefly as a spy, rather than a spy who became a writer, the exhibition will show how he gathered information, plotted stories, and developed iconic characters such as George Smiley and Karla. It will also reveal how le Carré’s relationships with friends and family were instrumental to his process. The vital influence of his second wife Jane, who typed everything le Carré handwrote, as well as annotating drafts, copyediting and typesetting each book, is visible throughout.
John le Carré: Tradecraft will unveil le Carré’s rigorous approach to research, which included international fieldwork and working closely with journalists, academics, intelligence operators, corporate whistle-blowers, and humanitarians. This collaboration was central to the author’s efforts to expose corrupt politics and global power structures – from the extra-judicial tactics of the war on terror to unethical practices in the pharmaceutical industry. The exhibition will also explore the interplay between the personal and the political, with le Carré growing increasingly progressive and outspoken throughout his life.
Flint Culture has been retained by The Bodleian Libraries since 2023 to promote their busy programme of public exhibitions and events, alongside the Libraries’ innovative research initiatives.
