John le Carré Autograph Letters Signed.

LE CARRÉ, John.

$2,000.00

Item Number: 146944

Penzance and London:, 2017.

An exceptional group of three letters and a card sent by John le Carré to writer and reviewer Trevor Pateman, discussing his character E. Weber’s inspiration and Pateman’s upcoming book. The first letter, two pages on le Carré’s personal stationary, 10 February 2017, written in London, reads: “Thank you so much for your letter, and the thoughtful & delightful piece that accompanied it. It’s hard to believe now, but E. Weber, under another name had a real place in my life, & an exquisitely wicked one, but it was left to me to coin the phrase on her behalf. And your closure ‘she just do’ is writing of the lady at her charming best. All in the present, as some so rightly say, for who wants future love? Who would ever honor such a dubious cheque? Thank so much – with best wishes, David Cornwell (John le Carré) P. S. New novel out in September.” The second, one page on le Carré’s personal stationary, 7 March 2017, written in Penzance, reads: “Thank you for your kind gift of the book, with your wide range of excursions & memories. The encounter with Aratat is very typical of that odd, & even sometimes likeable man! best wishes, David Cornwell.” The third and final letter, one page on Tregiffian St. Buryan letterhead, 25 July 2017, written in Penzance, reads: “Thank you for your letter of yesterday. There is no need to trouble my agent: please regard this letter as consent enough. I wish you success with the collection of your work, & am happy to feature in it. Best wishes, David Cornwell.” This letter is written in response to a typed letter from Pateman [included] referencing a previous correspondence about a piece called ‘Never Mind, E Weber Love You Always’ which he intends to expand into a short essay. He asks permission to include Cornwell’s previous letter in the essay, which would appear in Pateman’s collection of work titled ‘Prose Improvements.’ Lastly, the autograph card, one page on David Cornwell’s personal cardstock, 23 October 2017, written in London, reads: Thanks so much for the beautiful little book. I wish you success, & satisfaction. Best, David Cornwell.” Presumably, Pateman sent Cornwell a finished copy of his prose collection, which was published in November 2017 in a very small edition. In fine condition with mail folds. Accompanied by three stamped and addressed envelopes written in Cornwell’s hand. A fine correspondence from beginning to end.

David John Moore Cornwell, better known by his pen name John le Carré, was a British-Irish author, best known for his espionage novels. During the 1950s and 1960s, he worked for both the Security Service (MI5) and the Secret Intelligence Service (MI6). His third novel, The Spy Who Came in from the Cold (1963), became an international best-seller and remains one of his best-known works. His other books include The Looking Glass War (1965), Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (1974), Smiley's People (1979), The Little Drummer Girl (1983), The Night Manager (1993), The Tailor of Panama (1996), The Constant Gardener (2001), A Most Wanted Man (2008), and Our Kind of Traitor (2010), all of which have been adapted for film or television.