David Bianculli

He was the protagonist of many Le Corre novels, including Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy and Smiley's People, both of which were adapted into hit TV miniseries starring Alec Guinness as George Smiley.

Le Carre, whose real name was David Cornwell, died in 2020.

But George Smiley returned last year in the novel called Carla's Choice.

It was written by Cornwell's son, Nick, who goes by his own pen name, Nick Harkaway.

Harkaway spoke with Fresh Air's Sam Brigger last year.

Here's Sam.

We're listening to Sam Brigger's interview from last year with novelist Nick Harkaway about his book Carla's Choice.

It's now out in paperback.

Harkaway's novel takes place during the Cold War and follows the pursuits of spymaster George Smiley, a character created by Harkaway's father, John Le Carre.

More after a break.

I'm David Bianculli, and this is Fresh Air.

This is Fresh Air.

I'm TV critic David Bianculli.

Let's get back to our interview with novelist Nick Harkaway.

That's the pen name of Nick Cornwell, son of David Cornwell, better known by his pen name, John Le Carre.

If all those aliases remind you of a good spy thriller, well then, I guess that's appropriate.

John Le Carre wrote spy novels considered great literary fiction.

They often revolved around his most beloved character, British spymaster George Smiley.

Le Carre died in 2020, but his son, Nick Harkaway, has written a novel featuring George Smiley called Carla's Choice.

It takes place in the time period between two of his father's best-known books, The Spy Who Came In From the Cold and Tinker Taylor's Soldier Spy.