Sam Brigger

So why do you think your father originally wrote the character like that?

Which was, it was almost an antidote to the James Bond novels originally.

I'd like you to just read a little bit from the book.

This is as Smiley is going back to the circus for the first time.

He's been asked to come back after he's retired.

And he's been enjoying his life.

He's been spending time with his wife.

He hasn't really been thinking about espionage.

He's experiencing joy in a way that he hasn't in a very long time.

But now he has to return to the circus, which is the nickname for the intelligence agency.

And he has to go through this transformation in order to become a spy again.

And I asked you to shorten the excerpt, but if you could please read it for us, that'd be great.

That's Nick Harkaway reading from his new book, Carla's Choice.

So Nick, tell us about that idea that you came up with, that in order to be a spy, you really must be afraid.

And this is in his own country, but you have characters that have to go behind the Iron Curtain.

And their contingencies, they're worried, have I picked the right shoes?

Are they scuffed enough?

Are they going to look too new?

Did I forget to put on the right watch?

Am I...