Le Carre's moral compass

The perfect metaphor for the moral ambiguities that Le Carre explores is caught in Smiley's relationship with his wife, Lady Anne

In 2011, one of the most formidable living novelists in the English language was nominated for the Man Booker International Prize, awarded every two years for lifetime contribution to fiction. John le Carré, whose real name is David Cornwell, issued a statement saying, “I am enormously flattered to be named as a finalist of the 2011 Man Booker International prize. However, I do not compete for literary prizes and have therefore asked for my name to be withdrawn.”

But Le Carré’s finally got his award. He’s been given the Olof Palme Prize, instituted in 1987, which is given for outstanding achievements