Latest news with #BodleianLibraries
The Guardian
8 hours ago
- Politics
- The Guardian
John le Carré: the constant researcher
I can testify to the accuracy of John le Carré's research, which you note with reference to a new exhibition at Oxford's Bodleian libraries (8 July). When researching British foreign policy, I spent a day in the embassy in Bonn in 1973. It struck me as so much like its portrayal in A Small Town in Germany that I remarked that if someone came pushing the registry trolley I would not be surprised to hear it squeak, as he had described it. 'It's a pity you weren't here two or three years ago,' came the reply, 'you would have recognised several of the characters as well.'William WallaceLiberal Democrat, House of Lords I was never a fan of Norman Tebbit (Obituaries, 8 July) but an ex briefly worked security at Conservative HQ and had nothing but praise for him as the only person who said hello and goodbye to everyone by name every KimberPlymouth Just as John Smith is considered by many to have been the greatest Labour prime minister we never had, perhaps the same could be said of Norman Tebbit for the FullerAmpthill, Bedfordshire I was intrigued by the quoted advice that 'men should think about shortening their penis' as a method to strengthen the pelvic floor (Don't 'power pee' – but do grab a mirror: 13 easy, effective ways to protect your pelvic floor, 8 July). Disappointingly, it was not explained how we might achieve this YoungsDrinkstone, Suffolk Re (Whatever the truth of The Salt Path, I know why people wanted to believe it, 8 July): is it The Pinch of Salt Path?Sarah HannDorridge, West Midlands Have an opinion on anything you've read in the Guardian today? Please email us your letter and it will be considered for publication in our letters section.
BBC News
14 hours ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Oxford exhibition to showcase John le Carré archive
An exhibition celebrating bestselling spy novelist John le Carré will feature his annotated manuscripts and personal will go on display at the Bodleian Libraries in Oxford on 1 October, offering a glimpse into the Dorset-born author's writing process and personal Carré, whose real name was David Cornwell, wrote acclaimed novels including Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, The Spy Who Came In From The Cold, and The Night Manager. He died in 2020 aged son, author Nick Harkaway, said holding the exhibition - titled John le Carré: Tradecraft - at the Bodleian felt "like a homecoming." "Oxford took my father in when he was desperate to escape his own father's malign influence and kept his place when he couldn't afford it," said Mr Harkaway."The Bodleian was his refuge then and his choice for his archive now."The exhibition will include research notes, drafts and corrections from le Carré's novels, alongside original sketches, watercolours and letters to fans and the highlights is a letter from actor Sir Alec Guinness, who questioned his suitability to play George Smiley — le Carré's best-known character — writing that he was "not really rotund and double-chinned". The author persuaded Guinness to take the role in the BBC adaptation of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, which aired to critical acclaim in the late display spans le Carré's life, from his time as an Oxford student to drafts written in his final weeks, with some material being shown publicly for the first was curated by le Carré's longtime collaborator Prof Federico Varese and Dr Jessica Douthwaite, with support from the author's a joint statement, the pair said the exhibition would uncover the author's "researcher's spirit, commitment to understanding real-world problems, meticulous attention to detail and working relationships". You can follow BBC Oxfordshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
South Wales Guardian
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- South Wales Guardian
John Le Carre archive to go on display, including letter from Alec Guinness
Le Carre, whose real name was David Cornwell, wrote spy novels including Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, The Spy Who Came In From The Cold and The Night Manager and died in December 2020 aged 89. The exhibition, titled John le Carre: Tradecraft, will feature research, drafts and corrections for his books as well as original sketches, watercolour paintings and letters to fans and friends. Among them is a letter from actor Sir Alec Guinness which questioned his suitability to play George Smiley, Le Carre's best-known character, in which Guinness wrote that he was 'not really rotund and double-chinned'. The author successfully convinced Guinness to accept the role in the TV series of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, which aired in the late 1970s to considerable acclaim. Prior to his career as a writer, Le Carre worked in British intelligence throughout the 1950s and 1960s. Film versions of Le Carre's novels include 2001's The Tailor Of Panama, starring Pierce Brosnan, Geoffrey Rush and Jamie Lee Curtis; 2005's The Constant Gardener, starring Ralph Fiennes and Rachel Weisz; and 2011's big screen version of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, starring Sir Gary Oldman, Colin Firth and Tom Hardy. The display at the Weston Library in the Bodleian Libraries will include material that spans Le Carre's time as an Oxford student to drafts written in his final weeks, and is the first time some of the archive will be displayed publicly. It was curated by Le Carre's collaborator and friend Professor Federico Varese and Dr Jessica Douthwaite with the support of the author's family. Nick Harkaway, author and son of Le Carre, said: 'Oxford took my father in when he was desperate to escape his own father's malign influence and kept his place when he couldn't afford it. 'The Bodleian was his refuge then and his choice for his archive now. It feels like a homecoming.' In a joint statement, Professor Varese and Dr Douthwaite, said: 'Longstanding fans of Le Carre and those unfamiliar with his books will be equally excited by this original exhibition of his writing methods. 'Le Carre's researcher's spirit, commitment to understanding real-world problems, meticulous attention to detail and working relationships are uncovered in an engaging and colourful review of his life and career.' The exhibition's title plays on the term 'tradecraft' which Le Carre used to describe techniques of espionage, but may also be applied to his own craft as a writer and social commentator, organisers said. It is due to open on October 1 2025 until April 6 2026.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Alec Guiness letter to be displayed in Oxford for John Le Carre celebration
An exhibition celebrating best-selling espionage author John Le Carre is due to open in Oxford showcasing the writer's annotated manuscripts and letters to friends. Le Carre, whose real name was David Cornwell, wrote spy novels including Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, The Spy Who Came In From The Cold and The Night Manager and died in December 2020 aged 89. The exhibition, titled John le Carre: Tradecraft, will feature research, drafts and corrections for his books as well as original sketches, watercolour paintings and letters to fans and friends. Among them is a letter from actor Sir Alec Guinness which questioned his suitability to play George Smiley, Mr Le Carre's best-known character, in which Sir Alec wrote that he was 'not really rotund and double-chinned'. The author successfully convinced Sir Alec to accept the role in the TV series of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, which aired in the late 1970s to considerable acclaim. Prior to his career as a writer, Mr Le Carre worked in British intelligence throughout the 1950s and 1960s. READ MORE: Film versions of Mr Le Carre's novels include 2001's The Tailor Of Panama, starring Pierce Brosnan, Geoffrey Rush and Jamie Lee Curtis; 2005's The Constant Gardener, starring Ralph Fiennes and Rachel Weisz; and 2011's big screen version of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, starring Sir Gary Oldman, Colin Firth and Tom Hardy. The display at the Weston Library in the Bodleian Libraries will include material that spans Mr Le Carre's time as an Oxford student to drafts written in his final weeks, and is the first time some of the archive will be displayed publicly. It was curated by Mr Le Carre's collaborator and friend Professor Federico Varese and Dr Jessica Douthwaite with the support of the author's family. READ MORE: Nick Harkaway, author and son of Mr Le Carre, said: 'Oxford took my father in when he was desperate to escape his own father's malign influence and kept his place when he couldn't afford it. 'The Bodleian was his refuge then and his choice for his archive now. It feels like a homecoming.' The Weston Library. Picture: David Fleming In a joint statement, Professor Varese and Dr Douthwaite, said: 'Longstanding fans of Le Carre and those unfamiliar with his books will be equally excited by this original exhibition of his writing methods. 'Le Carre's researcher's spirit, commitment to understanding real-world problems, meticulous attention to detail and working relationships are uncovered in an engaging and colourful review of his life and career.' The exhibition's title plays on the term 'tradecraft' which Mr Le Carre used to describe techniques of espionage, but may also be applied to his own craft as a writer and social commentator, organisers said. It is due to open on October 1 until April 6, 2026.
Leader Live
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Leader Live
John Le Carre archive to go on display, including letter from Alec Guinness
Le Carre, whose real name was David Cornwell, wrote spy novels including Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, The Spy Who Came In From The Cold and The Night Manager and died in December 2020 aged 89. The exhibition, titled John le Carre: Tradecraft, will feature research, drafts and corrections for his books as well as original sketches, watercolour paintings and letters to fans and friends. Among them is a letter from actor Sir Alec Guinness which questioned his suitability to play George Smiley, Le Carre's best-known character, in which Guinness wrote that he was 'not really rotund and double-chinned'. The author successfully convinced Guinness to accept the role in the TV series of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, which aired in the late 1970s to considerable acclaim. Prior to his career as a writer, Le Carre worked in British intelligence throughout the 1950s and 1960s. Film versions of Le Carre's novels include 2001's The Tailor Of Panama, starring Pierce Brosnan, Geoffrey Rush and Jamie Lee Curtis; 2005's The Constant Gardener, starring Ralph Fiennes and Rachel Weisz; and 2011's big screen version of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, starring Sir Gary Oldman, Colin Firth and Tom Hardy. The display at the Weston Library in the Bodleian Libraries will include material that spans Le Carre's time as an Oxford student to drafts written in his final weeks, and is the first time some of the archive will be displayed publicly. It was curated by Le Carre's collaborator and friend Professor Federico Varese and Dr Jessica Douthwaite with the support of the author's family. Nick Harkaway, author and son of Le Carre, said: 'Oxford took my father in when he was desperate to escape his own father's malign influence and kept his place when he couldn't afford it. 'The Bodleian was his refuge then and his choice for his archive now. It feels like a homecoming.' In a joint statement, Professor Varese and Dr Douthwaite, said: 'Longstanding fans of Le Carre and those unfamiliar with his books will be equally excited by this original exhibition of his writing methods. 'Le Carre's researcher's spirit, commitment to understanding real-world problems, meticulous attention to detail and working relationships are uncovered in an engaging and colourful review of his life and career.' The exhibition's title plays on the term 'tradecraft' which Le Carre used to describe techniques of espionage, but may also be applied to his own craft as a writer and social commentator, organisers said. It is due to open on October 1 2025 until April 6 2026.
