‘An anarchy of treason’: public history, insider knowledge and the early spy novels of John le Carré

Abstract

John le Carré is credited with re-defining spy fiction into something widely considered as more ‘authentic’. His work emerged during a period replete with spy scandals and public investigations. This article considers the intersection of the public history of intelligence with le Carré’s early novels, particularly The Spy Who Came in from the Cold. It reveals how the author drew creatively on that public history to shape his narratives and underpin the mood of his stories. Finally, it probes the ‘insider knowledge’ in the stories, illustrating that, contrary to le Carré’s protestations, there exists a demonstrable correspondence between fact and fiction.