John le Carré: a life in pictures

British author, best known for spy-thriller novels set during the cold war, dies aged 89

Main image: John Le Carré. Photograph: Jane Bown/The Guardian

  • British spy-thriller writer David Cornwell, better known by his pen name, John le Carré.
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    British spy-thriller writer David Cornwell, better known by his pen name John le Carré

  • Le Carré outside his home with his first wife, Alison.
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    British spy-thriller writer John le Carré at home with his first wife Alison.

  • John le Carré at home with his sons Stephen (left) and Simon.
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    John le Carré at home with his sons Stephen (left) and Simon.

  • Le Carré at home with his first wife, Alison, and their three sons, Stephen, Simon and baby Timothy.
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    Le Carré at home with his first wife Alison and their three sons, Stephen, Simon and baby Timothy.

  • Le Carré with the French language version of The Looking Glass War, published in 1965.
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    John le Carré with the French language version of The Looking Glass War, published in 1965.

  • Le Carré pictured with Richard Burton, who played Alec Leamas in the film adaptation of The Spy Who Came in from the Cold.
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    Le Carré pictured with Richard Burton, who played Alec Leamas in the film adaptation of The Spy Who Came In from the Cold.

  • Le Carré at leisure, shark fishing while out at sea.
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    Le Carré shark fishing at sea.

  • The author on the set of French talk show Apostrophes.
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    English Novelist John Le CarreEnglish novelist John Le Carre (1931- ), the prolific author of famous spy novels, appears on the French talk show Apostrophes. He was born David John Moore Cornwell. (Photo by Sophie Bassouls/Sygma/Sygma via Getty Images)

  • Le Carré at home in Cornwall.
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    CLOSE-UP JOHN LE CARREJohn Le Carre published his book on events in the Lebanon. Spying and intrigues set in the Middle East. (Photo by Jacob SUTTON/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)

  • The author pictured with Imelda Staunton at the Constant Gardener Trust screening in May 2006.
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    The Constant Gardener Trust Screening and Auction at the Soho Hotel Dean Street - 12 Mar 2006Mandatory Credit: Photo by Alan Davidson/REX/Shutterstock (7545218d) the Constant Gardener Trust Screening and Auction at the Soho Hotel Dean Street David Cornwell (aka John Le Carre) and Imelda Staunton The Constant Gardener Trust Screening and Auction at the Soho Hotel Dean Street - 12 Mar 2006

  • Le Carré in his study.
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    John le Carré in his study at home.

  • The writer meets fans and signs autographs at the 66th Berlin International Film Festival in 2016.
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    The writer meets fans and signs autographs at the 66th Berlin International Film Festival in 2016.

  • Le Carré poses at his home near Penzance, in Cornwall, England on 7 June 1993.
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    Various Writers and JournalistsPENZANCE - JUNE 7: Writer John Le Carre (David Cornwell) poses at his home near Penzance, in Cornwall, England on June 7, 1993. (Photo by David Levenson/Getty Images)

  • Le Carré with his second wife, Jane, at dinner in Berlin.
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    John le Carré with his second wife Jane, at dinner in Berlin.

  • Gary Oldman arrives with le Carré at the premiere of Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy at BFI Southbank in central London in 2011.
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    Gary Oldman (right) arrives with le Carré at the premiere of Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy at BFI Southbank in central London in 2011.

  • Le Carré won the Olof Palme award in early January 2020, for his ‘outstanding achievement in the spirit’ of the former Swedish prime minister.
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    Le Carré won the Olaf Palmer award in early January 2020, for his ‘outstanding achievement in the spirit’ of the former Swedish prime minister.

  • Le Carré with Florence Pugh at the premiere of The Little Drummer Girl at the BFI London Film Festival in October 2018.
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    John le Carré with Florence Pugh at the premiere of The Little Drummer Girl at the BFI London Film Festival in October 2018.

  • The author was the recipient of a number of honorary degrees, including one from Oxford University in 2012.
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    Honorary degrees awarded in Oxford, Britain - 20 Jun 2012Mandatory Credit: Photo by Robert Judges/REX/Shutterstock (1769890a) John Le Carre Honorary degrees awarded in Oxford, Britain - 20 Jun 2012

  • Le Carré at an anti-Brexit protest in central London in 2019.
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    John Le Carre Brexit protest19/10/2019 London.Westminster.Peoples Vote Campaign March and Rally. Parliament Square Writer ?John Le Carre?. © Sean Smith / Guardian / eyevine Contact eyevine for more information about using this image: T: +44 (0) 20 8709 8709 E: info@eyevine.com http://www.eyevine.com
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