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☆ Bill Gates names his top book recommendations of the summer—and the one that's a 'must-read'
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-21 | by ( Tom Huddleston Jr. | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

"I didn't intend to go deep on the idea of service, but it's certainly as relevant today as ever," Gates wrote. 'The Women,' by Kristin HannahHannah's bestseller, released in February, is a work of historical fiction set during the Vietnam War. In his new book, Anderson argues "that we need to expand our definition of generosity," Gates wrote. "Oldman plays the head of Slough House, who's basically the polar opposite of James Bond," wrote Gates. "More than a guide to better conversations, it's a blueprint for a more connected and humane way of living," Gates wrote.

Persons: Bill Gates, David Brooks, Gates, it's, Kristin Hannah Hannah's, Frances McGrath, I've, Hannah, Nightingale, Chris Anderson, Anderson, Mick Herron, Jackson Lamb, Gary Oldman, Oldman, who's, James Bond, Sal Khan, Khan, Melinda Gates, Sal, Brooks Organizations: Microsoft, New York Times, Army, Corps, TED, Apple, Slough House, Khan Academy, Melinda Gates Foundation, CNBC Locations: Vietnam, Slough

☆ Families of Manchester Bombing Victims File Lawsuit Against MI5
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-15 | by ( Johnny Diaz | Ali Watkins | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Hundreds of survivors of the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing attack have filed a lawsuit against the British government intelligence agency MI5, their lawyers said. Three lead firms — Hudgell Solicitors, Slater & Gordon and Broudie Jackson Canter — said in a statement on Sunday that they were representing more than 250 victims of the bombing and family members of those killed, and have submitted a group claim to the Investigatory Powers Tribunal, an independent judicial body that hears complaints against Britain’s intelligence services. “As it is an ongoing legal matter, we are unable or provide any further details, or comment further, at this stage,” the group statement said. The lawsuit comes a year after an independent public inquiry found that MI5, the domestic security service, failed to act on two pieces of critical intelligence about the bomber that could have prevented the atrocity.

Persons: —, Slater, Gordon, Broudie Jackson Canter — Organizations: Arena, — Hudgell Solicitors

☆ ‘Slow Horses’ Season 3 Review: A Stable of Spies Returns
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( John Anderson | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +1 min

Gary Oldman Photo: Apple TV+It would be a stretch to describe “Slow Horses” as a “feel good” show, except for its ramshackle centerpiece, Jackson Lamb . Played by a deliciously derelict Gary Oldman , Jackson will certainly make the average viewer feel good about his or her own personal hygiene. Slow Horses, season 3 Wednesday, Apple TV+He’s also hilarious, usually right and never modest about it, which may infuriate the poor unfortunates around him but does make him a highly watchable and even quotable post-Le Carré Cold War hero—a reservoir of seemingly passé spycraft that nevertheless becomes critically important from episode to episode, and season to season. (“Slow Horses” now enters its third as one of the best series on television.) The infractions can be minor, but the damage to one’s career and credibility are never less than biblical, the ensuing duties clerical.

Persons: Gary Oldman, Jackson Lamb, Jackson Organizations: Apple, Slough House Locations: Slough

[1/2] Former Bombe operator Jean Valentine touches a British Turing Bombe machine in Bletchley Park Museum in Bletchley, central England, September 6, 2006. - Bletchley Park was the site where the world's first programmable digital computer Colossus was developed by British codebreakers. - Notable Bletchley Park codebreakers include mathematician Alan Turing who played a key role in cracking the Enigma code and is often considered the 'father of computer science'. The unit, called the Government Code and Cypher School (GC&CS), moved to Bletchley Park in 1938. - Bletchley Park staff began to disperse after Victory in Europe Day (VE Day) and Victory over Japan Day (VJ Day) with some continuing to work with GC&CS while many others went back to civilian life.

Persons: Jean Valentine, Alessia, Alan Turing, Turing, Irving John, Jack, Good, Donald Michie, Farouq Suleiman, William Maclean Organizations: Bletchley Park Museum, REUTERS, Bletchley, Bletchley Park, Cypher, CS, Victory, Japan, GC, Government Communications Headquarters, MI5, Secret Intelligence Service, Thomson Locations: Bletchley, England, Britain, Milton Keynes, London, British, Europe, Victory

☆ Australia's new submarines are still 2 decades away from delivery, but the Aussies are already looking out for spies
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-26 | by ( Stavros Atlamazoglou | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Australia is working with the US and UK to build nuclear-powered subs and other military technology. It can be intentional — for example, a foreign intelligence service spreading election conspiracies on social media — or unintentional, as when someone unwittingly shares the foreign intelligence service's social-media posts. Australian officials look at the Collins-class submarine HMAS Collins in September 2021. Those Australian intelligence officials echoed worries that US officials have about foreign efforts to compromise AUKUS. US intelligence officials estimate that Chinese espionage steals US economic secrets worth between $200 billion and $600 billion a year.

Persons: —, Joe Biden, Rishi Sunak, Anthony Albanese, Tayfun, Andrew Shearer, Mike Burgess, Burgess, CPOIS Damian Pawlenko, Azorian, PETER, Stavros Atlamazoglou Organizations: US, Service, Australia, British, Australian, Anadolu Agency, Getty, Australian National Intelligence, of National Intelligence, US Navy, Australian Security Intelligence, ASIO, FBI, Collins, Royal Australian Navy, intel, China Aviation, of State Security, Western, Hellenic Army, 575th Marine Battalion, Army, Johns Hopkins University, Johns Hopkins School, International Studies, Boston College Law School Locations: Australia, France, China, Canberra, San Diego, Virginia, North Dakota, Canada , New Zealand, AUKUS, Soviet, Beijing

A Union Jack flag flutters in front of the Houses of Parliament in London, Britain, November 5, 2019. "Chinese recruitment schemes have tried to headhunt British and allied nationals in key positions and with sensitive knowledge and experience," the government said. The arrest of the young researcher, who denied being a spy, has led to calls by British members of parliament for a tougher stance. Sunak told parliament that he accepted the report and recognised that it identified areas where "we can do better". Last year, MI5 issued a rare security alert, warning members of parliament that a suspected Chinese spy was "involved in political interference activities" in Britain.

Persons: Hannah McKay, Sunak, Andrew MacAskill, Kylie MacLellan, Michael Holden, Christina Fincher Organizations: REUTERS, CAN, Intelligence, Security Committee, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, China, Beijing

☆ A Chinese spy used fake LinkedIn profiles to target officials to hand over secrets, report says
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-23 | by ( Pete Syme | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

A Chinese spy created several fake LinkedIn profiles to target UK officials, The Times of London reports. Another Chinese agent previously confessed to using LinkedIn to find people likely to possess sensitive information. AdvertisementAdvertisementA Chinese spy has been using LinkedIn to try to get UK officials to hand over state secrets, The Times of London reported. The UK's security minister Tom Tugendhat said in a statement shared with Insider that the Home Office is aware of Chinese Intelligence using LinkedIn and other social media sites to target British citizens. In a statement shared with Insider, a LinkedIn spokesperson said: "Creating a fake account is a clear violation of our terms of service.

Persons: Beijing –, Robin Zhang, Eric Chen Yixi, Robin Cao, Lincoln Lam, John Lee, Eric Kim, Tom Tugendhat, It's, Lazarus – Organizations: The, LinkedIn, Chinese Ministry of State, The Times, Times, Intelligence, National Security, Washington Post, Reuters, Prevention & Defense Locations: London, Beijing, China, North Korea

☆ Northern Irish police accidentally share names of all officers
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Police officers stand outside the Grand Central Hotel, where U.S. President Joe Biden is staying, as he visits Northern Ireland, in Belfast, Northern Ireland, April 12, 2023. REUTERS/Clodagh Kilcoyne/File PhotoBELFAST, Aug 8 (Reuters) - Northern Ireland's police force accidentally shared the names and work locations of every member of staff on Tuesday in a data breach it said would be of "significant concern" to officers who are often targeted by militant groups. The information was publicly available on the requestor's website for around two-and-a-half hours before being removed, the Police Service of Northern Ireland said. However, officers' data is especially sensitive in Northern Ireland as many "go to great lengths and do everything possible to protect their police identity and role," the Police Federation for Northern Ireland, the representative body for officers, said in a statement. While a 1998 peace deal largely ended three decades of sectarian violence in Northern Ireland, police officers are still sporadically targeted by dissident groups in bomb and gun attacks.

Persons: Joe Biden, Clodagh, Chris Todd, Todd, Amanda Ferguson, Padraic Halpin, Matthew Lewis Organizations: Grand Central Hotel, REUTERS, Police Service of Northern, Police Federation, Northern, Thomson Locations: Northern Ireland, Belfast , Northern Ireland, Northern, Police Service of Northern Ireland, Belfast

☆ A British spy chief who goes by the code name 'C' says MI6 channels 'more resources to China than any other mission'
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-20 | by ( Kwan Wei Kevin Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

MI6 chief Richard Moore told Politico that the British spy agency views China as a key concern. "We now devote more resources to China than any other mission," Moore told Politico. The spy chief previously said that the "rise of China is the single greatest priority for MI6." Moore, officially codenamed "C," made these remarks to Politico after delivering his second public speech as MI6 chief at the British embassy in Prague. During his first public speech as MI6 chief, Moore said the "rise of China is the single greatest priority for MI6."

Persons: Richard Moore, Moore, Politico's Anne McElvoy, Alex Younger Organizations: Politico, Service, Privacy, BBC, UK Security Service MI5, Street Journal Locations: China, Wall, Silicon, Prague, Russia, Ukraine, Cuba

☆ Israel's Shin Bet spy service uses generative AI to thwart threats
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

TEL AVIV, June 27 (Reuters) - Israel's Shin Bet security service has incorporated artificial intelligence into its tradecraft and used the technology to foil substantial threats, its director said on Tuesday, highlighting generative AI's potential for law-enforcement. Among measures taken by the Shin Bet - the Israeli counterpart of the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigations or Britain's MI5 - has been the creation of its own generative AI platform, akin to ChatGPT or Bard, director Ronen Bar said. "AI technology has been incorporated quite naturally into the Shin Bet's interdiction machine," Bar said in a speech to the Cyber Week conference hosted by Tel Aviv University. Acknowledging the public-domain backbone of the fast-emerging technology, Bar urged cooperation between commercial hi-tech and government agencies such as his "to ensure AI leads to evolution and not to revolution". With Israel still pondering its AI policies, Bar called for the expected regulations to include a review of Shin Bet-related laws as well as a redefinition of official secrecy.

Persons: Shin, Bard, Ronen Bar, Bar, Israel, Shin Bet, Dan Williams, Conor Humphries Organizations: U.S . Federal Bureau of Investigations, Tel Aviv University, Shin, Thomson Locations: TEL AVIV, Israel

☆ Northern Ireland police recover suspected pipe bombs ahead of Biden visit
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

LONDON, April 11 (Reuters) - Police in Northern Ireland said on Tuesday they had recovered four suspected pipe bombs from a cemetery near the city of Londonderry following a public safety operation. The discovery comes hours before U.S. President Joe Biden is due to arrive in Belfast, about 110 kilometers (70 miles) southeast of Londonderry. Biden arrives in Belfast late on Tuesday at a delicate political time in Northern Ireland as he helps mark the 25-year anniversary of a peace deal that largely ended 30 years of bloodshed there. Pipe bombs are crude improvised explosive devices used in the past by militants in Northern Ireland and are often around the size of a hand grenade. In March, Britain's MI5 intelligence agency increased the threat level in Northern Ireland from domestic terrorism to "severe" - meaning an attack is highly likely - though the move was not thought to be linked to the anniversary.

☆ Biden heads to Northern Ireland at delicate political juncture
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-11 | by ( Conor Humphries | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

BELFAST, April 11 (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden arrives in Belfast on Tuesday at a delicate political time in Northern Ireland as he helps mark the 25-year anniversary of a peace deal that largely ended 30 years of bloodshed there. Biden was expected to meet representatives from five Northern Irish parties in advance of his speech at Ulster University but was not planning to pressure them, a senior administration official said. Biden, who will float the possibility of closer investment ties between the U.S. and Northern Ireland to try to encourage an end to the impasse, clashed with the British government at times during the Brexit talks, drawing a rebuke from the DUP. Britain's MI5 intelligence agency recently increased the threat level in Northern Ireland from domestic terrorism to "severe" - meaning an attack is highly likely. "Since (Jonh F.) Kennedy there hasn't been as Irish American a president as Joe Biden and we're really looking forward to welcoming him home," Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said on Sunday.

☆ Britain names first female director of GCHQ intelligence agency
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

LONDON, April 11 (Reuters) - Britain named Anne Keast-Butler as the first female director of its GCHQ intelligence agency on Tuesday. She currently serves as deputy director general at Britain's MI5 intelligence agency. "She is the ideal candidate to lead GCHQ, and Anne will use her vast experience to help keep the British public safe." Keast-Butler will take over the role in May, according to a GCHQ statement, succeeding Jeremy Fleming who in January announced his planned departure after six years in the role. Reporting by Sachin Ravikumar, writing by William James; Editing by Kate HoltonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Pope hopes Northern Ireland accord can be 'consolidated' to benefit all Ireland
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-10 | by ( Philip Pullella | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

VATICAN CITY, April 10 (Reuters) - Pope Francis said on Monday he was praying that the Good Friday agreement signed 25 years ago that largely ended violence in Northern Ireland can be "consolidated" to benefit the people of all of Ireland. "Today marks the 25th anniversary of the so-called Good Friday agreement, or of Belfast, which brought an end to the violence that for decades troubled Northern Ireland," Francis said. Angry about post-Brexit trade rules that treated the province of Northern Ireland differently to the rest of the United Kingdom, the Democratic Unionist Party, the largest pro-British party, has boycotted the power-sharing devolved government central to the peace deal for more than a year. Last month, Britain's MI5 intelligence agency increased the threat level in Northern Ireland from domestic terrorism to "severe" - meaning an attack was considered highly likely. Additional reporting by Michael Holden in London; editing by John Stonestreet, Kirsten DonovanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Work to be done, PM Sunak says 25 years after N.Irish peace deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-10 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

A quarter of century since the signing of a peace deal that largely ended violence in Northern Ireland, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said efforts had to be intensified to restore the power-sharing government central to the accord. But peace has come under strain following Britain's exit from the European Union and other political crises have overshadowed this week's commemorations. "But most importantly, it is based on compromise in Northern Ireland itself. Last month, Britain's MI5 intelligence agency increased the threat level in Northern Ireland from domestic terrorism to "severe" - meaning an attack was considered highly likely. Irish Prime Minister Irish Leo Varadkar on Sunday pledged to intensify efforts with Sunak to break the political deadlock in the province.

☆ Work to be done, PM Sunak says 25 years after Northern Ireland peace deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-09 | by ( Michael Holden | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] A road sign is seen indicating speed limits are changing from kilometres per hour to miles per hour on the border between Northern Ireland and Ireland along the M1 motorway, as seen from Carrickcarnan, Ireland, May 19, 2022. REUTERS/Clodagh KilcoyneLONDON, April 10 (Reuters) - A quarter of century since the signing of a peace deal that largely ended violence in Northern Ireland, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said efforts had to be intensified to restore the power-sharing government central to the accord. U.S. President Joe Biden will fly into Northern Ireland on Tuesday to attend events marking the 25th anniversary of the deal, a reflection of the role the United States played in brokering the agreement. "But most importantly, it is based on compromise in Northern Ireland itself. Last month, Britain's MI5 intelligence agency increased the threat level in Northern Ireland from domestic terrorism to "severe" - meaning an attack was considered highly likely.

☆ UK PM Sunak to meet President Biden in Northern Ireland
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Phil Nobel/PoolLONDON, April 9 (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will meet Joe Biden in Northern Ireland next week when the U.S. president flies in to take part in events to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday peace accord. Sunak will greet Biden on Tuesday evening when Air Force One lands for what will be a closely watched visit to both sides of the Irish border at a time of heightened political uncertainty in Northern Ireland. The Good Friday Agreement - signed on April 10, 1998 - largely ended three decades of sectarian bloodshed that had convulsed Northern Ireland since the late 1960s. However the anniversary has been overshadowed by a year-long boycott by Northern Ireland's largest pro-British unionist party of the power-sharing devolved government central to the peace deal. Although that deal has so far failed to restore the devolved government in Northern Ireland, Sunak will seek to bolster his support for the province by announcing a summit later in the year to stimulate international investment.

☆ Northern Ireland police warn of dissident violence ahead of Biden visit -BBC
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

April 7 (Reuters) - The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) has warned of the potential for public disorder by dissident republicans over the Easter weekend, days before a visit by U.S. President Joe Biden, the BBC reported on Thursday. The PSNI has made temporary changes to work shifts to put more officers onto frontline duties, he said. The Police warning comes ahead of President Biden's visit next week and after British intelligence agency MI5 increased the threat level from domestic terrorism in Northern Ireland to "severe". There is sporadic violence in Northern Ireland by small groups that has kept the threat level mostly at "severe" since the system was introduced in 2010. Reporting by Rahat Sandhu and Shivani Tanna in Bengaluru; Editing by Christopher CushingOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ U.S. President Biden to visit Ireland, Northern Ireland next week
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-05 | by ( Padraic Halpin | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Summary Political stalemate awaits president in Northern IrelandBiden to underscore U.S. support for N.Ireland economyWill visit ancestral homes on both coasts of IrelandDUBLIN, April 5 (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden will visit Ireland and Northern Ireland on April 11-14 to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday peace accord on one side of the Irish border and visit his ancestral home on the other, the White House said on Wednesday. However the anniversary has been overshadowed by a year-long boycott by Northern Ireland's largest pro-British unionist party of the power-sharing devolved government central to the 1998 deal. The British government and the European Union reached a deal in February to ease post-Brexit trade rules between Northern Ireland and the rest of the U.K. There is still some sporadic violence in Northern Ireland by small groups opposed to peace. The 1998 deal was partially brokered by the U.S. government of then-President Bill Clinton, who will travel to Belfast a week later with his wife Hillary for an event marking the anniversary.

☆ Britain raises domestic threat level for Northern Ireland to 'severe'
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-28 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 28: British Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Chris Heaton-Harris arrives for a cabinet meeting at Downing Street on March 28, 2023 in London. Britain's MI5 intelligence agency has increased the threat level from domestic terrorism to Northern Ireland to "severe" - meaning an attack is highly likely, Britain said on Tuesday. "The public should remain vigilant, but not be alarmed, and continue to report any concerns they have to the Police Service of Northern Ireland," he said. The change comes roughly a year after Britain lowered the threat level for the province to "substantial" for the first time in more than a decade. It also comes ahead of next month's 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement peace deal that largely ended the "Troubles," three decades of violence that had convulsed Northern Ireland since the late 1960s.

☆ Dramas 'This is Going to Hurt', 'The Responder' lead BAFTA TV nominations
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] Cast members attend a premiere for season 2 of the television series The White Lotus in Los Angeles, California, U.S. October 20, 2022. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni/File PhotoLONDON, March 22 (Reuters) - Medical comedy-drama "This is Going to Hurt" and police series "The Responder" led nominations for Britain's BAFTA Television Awards on Wednesday, receiving six nods each, while live coverage of Queen Elizabeth's Platinum Jubilee and her state funeral were also recognised. Liverpool-set police drama "The Responder" saw cast members Martin Freeman, Josh Finan, Adelayo Adedayo nominated in the leading actor, supporting actor and supporting actress categories respectively. Gary Oldman ("Slow Horses"), Chaske Spencer ("The English"), Cillian Murphy ("Peaky Blinders") and Taron Egerton ("Black Bird") complete the leading actor category. The BAFTA TV Craft awards take place on April 23, followed by the BAFTA TV Awards on May 14.

☆ Northern Irish police suspect New IRA behind shooting of detective
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-23 | by ( Amanda Ferguson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The gunmen continued to fire while the detective was on the ground, McEwan said. The primary focus is on violent dissident republicans and within that there is a primary focus as well on New IRA," McEwan told BBC Northern Ireland. While the peace agreement largely ended three decades of sectarian violence in Northern Ireland, police officers are still sporadically targeted by splinter groups of mostly Irish nationalist militants opposed to Britain's rule over the region. The last time a police officer was shot in Northern Ireland was 2017 and the United Kingdom last year lowered its Northern Ireland-related terrorism threat level for the first time in more than a decade. "Unfortunately this is a stark reminder for our colleagues that 25 years on from the signing of the Good Friday Agreement, policing in Northern Ireland is still a very dangerous occupation and carries extreme risk," Kelly said.

☆ Shamima Begum, British-born woman who joined IS, loses appeal over citizenship removal
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-22 | by ( Sam Tobin | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

The British government took away Shamima Begum's citizenship on national security grounds in 2019, shortly after she was found in a detention camp in Syria. Begum would have to take the case directly to the Court of Appeal in London if she wishes to challenge Wednesday's decision, according to legislation which covers the tribunal. Begum, who is currently being held in the al-Roj detention camp in north-eastern Syria, argued that the Home Office failed to investigate whether she was a "child victim of trafficking". Judge Robert Jay found there was a "credible suspicion" that Begum was trafficked to Syria for the purposes of "sexual exploitation". But the judge ruled that a finding that Begum may have been trafficked was not enough for her appeal to succeed.

☆ British embassy guard who spied for Russia filmed "secret" letter to PM, London court told
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-13 | by ( Sam Tobin | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Morgan said Smith sent a letter containing "highly sensitive information about the British embassy and those who worked within it" to General Major Sergey Chukhrov, the Russian military attaché to Berlin, in November 2020. She added that the discovery of Smith's letter to Chukhrov prompted a joint investigation between British and German authorities. Covertly recorded footage was played in court showing Smith filming CCTV footage of "Dmitry" from within the embassy's security kiosk. Smith was later approached by "Irina", who told him that she needed assistance as someone had "passed information to the British and the information could be damaging to Russia". In hidden camera footage played to the court, "Irina" asks if Smith can help and he replies: "Well, like what?"

☆ ‘A Private Spy’ Review: John le Carré, Letter by Letter
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-10 | by ( Katherine A. Powers | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +2 min

‘A Private Spy,” a 630-page collection of the letters of John le Carré—David Cornwell in real life—is not as revealing of this secretive, canny man as Adam Sisman’s 2015 biography or as engaging as le Carré’s own episodic memoir, “The Pigeon Tunnel,” published a year later, partly in response to that “intrusive” biography. But what makes the letters so fascinating is their real-time immediacy, most palpable in the earlier years. Here is a man, not yet renowned as John le Carré, trying to find a way in the world, from student in England and Germany, to impoverished married man and father, would-be commercial artist, schoolmaster, diplomat (spy) and—before “The Spy Who Came in From the Cold”—middling novelist. Extensive though it is, it is only a selection of le Carré’s correspondence. They include, according to Tim Cornwell, a “‘tortured’ sixteen-page letter” le Carré wrote to Timothy Garton Ash on “the morality of spying,” and a couple of dispatches le Carré claimed he sent as a boy to Stalin, one advising the Supreme Commander of his support for opening a second front, the other complaining about his school.

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