Who Is John le Carré? Age, Biography, and Wiki
John le Carré, born David John Moore Cornwell on October 19, 1931, was a renowned British novelist and former intelligence officer. His writing, distinguished by a deep understanding of the moral complexities of espionage, made him one of the most influential authors in the spy fiction genre. His works, including "The Spy Who Came in from the Cold" and the "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy" series, captured the attention of readers around the world. Despite his passing in December 2020, his influence remains impactful, and his legacy endures through literary discussions and adaptations in film and television.
| Occupation | Novelist |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | October 19, 1931 |
| Age | 89 Years |
| Birth Place | Poole, England |
| Horoscope | Libra |
| Country | England |
| Date of death | 12 December, 2020 |
| Died Place | Truro, England |
Popularity
John le Carré's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
Though specific details regarding John le Carré's physical measurements are not widely available, he was known for his distinguished presence. His height is estimated to be around 5 feet 10 inches (178 cm). His weight fluctuated throughout his life, typical for someone who was deeply engaged in the mental demands of writing and intelligence work rather than physical competition.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
John le Carré was married twice. His first marriage was to Anne Quincy in 1954, with whom he had three children. The couple divorced in 1971. In 1974, he married his second wife, Jane Frere, and they remained together until his death. Throughout his life, le Carré maintained a private family life, but he often intertwined elements of his personal experiences into his narratives, providing a compelling look into the complexities of relationships amidst intrigue and deception.
His older brother, Tony (1929–2017), was an advertising executive and county cricketer (for Dorset), who later lived in the United States. His younger half-sister was the actress Charlotte Cornwell (1949–2021), and his younger half-brother, Rupert Cornwell (1946–2017), was a former Washington bureau chief for The Independent.
Cornwell had little early memory of his mother, who had left their family home when he was five years old. His maternal uncle was Liberal MP Alec Glassey.
When Cornwell was 21 years old, Glassey gave him the address in Ipswich where his mother was living; mother and son reunited at Ipswich railway station, at her written invitation, following Cornwell's initial letter of reconciliation.
Net Worth and Salary
At the time of his passing in 2020, John le Carré was estimated to have a net worth of approximately $20 million. His wealth stemmed from the success of his novels, film adaptations, and royalties, along with contributions to theater and television.
Career, Business and Investments
Le Carré’s career as a writer began in the 1960s when he gained fame for his espionage novels. His experience as a spy enriched his storytelling, providing authenticity and depth to his characters and plots. Over the years, he published over 25 novels, some of which were adapted into successful films and TV series. Additionally, le Carré ventured into screenwriting and theater, maximizing the impact of his literary works. He also remained engaged in discussions regarding global politics, ethics, and human rights, contributing to his reputation as a socially conscious writer.
In 1964, le Carré's career as an intelligence officer came to an end as the result of the betrayal of British agents' covers to the KGB by Kim Philby, the infamous British double agent, one of the Cambridge Five. Le Carré depicted and analysed Philby as the upper-class traitor, codenamed "Gerald" by the KGB, the mole hunted by George Smiley in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (1974).
Social Network
Though John le Carré was more of a private individual, he had a notable presence on social media platforms and frequently engaged with literary discussions surrounding his books. His official website and social media pages remain active as a tribute to his legacy, offering fans insights and updates on posthumous releases and adaptations.
In 1960, Cornwell transferred to MI6, the foreign-intelligence service, and worked under the cover of Second Secretary at the British Embassy in Bonn. He was later transferred to Hamburg as a political consul.
There, he wrote the detective story A Murder of Quality (1962) and The Spy Who Came in from the Cold (1963), as "John le Carré"—a pseudonym required because Foreign Office staff were forbidden to publish under their own names.
The meaning of the pseudonym is ambiguous: he sometimes said he had seen "le Carré" on a storefront, and later said he couldn't remember an origin. When translated, "le carré" means "the square".
Education
John le Carré attended the University of Bern and graduated from the University of Oxford, where he studied German and French. His educational background imbued him with an understanding of cross-cultural perspectives, which is evident in the multifaceted characters and narratives in his works.
Cornwell's schooling began at St Andrew's Preparatory School, near Pangbourne, Berkshire, and continued at Sherborne School. He grew unhappy with the typically harsh English public school regime of the time and disliked his disciplinarian housemaster. He left Sherborne early to study foreign languages at the University of Bern from 1948 to 1949.
In 1950, he was called up for National Service and served in the Intelligence Corps of the British Army garrisoned in Allied-occupied Austria, working as a German language interrogator of people who had crossed the Iron Curtain to the West.
In 1952, he returned to England to study at Lincoln College, Oxford, where he worked covertly for the Security Service, MI5, spying on far-left groups for information about possible Soviet agents. During his studies, he was a member of The Gridiron Club and a college dining society known as The Goblin Club.
