Listen to a sample
The Secret Heart
- Author
- Suleika Dawson
- Narrator
- Suleika Dawson
- Publisher
- HarperCollins Publishers
- Publish Date
- 18 October 2022
- Run Time
- 11 hours 42 minutes
- Format
- x-book®
What to expect
The astonishing new portrait of the master of spy fiction, by the woman he kept secret for almost half his life
John le Carré led a life entirely constructed of secrets. First as a British ‘spook’ during the Cold War, then as a world-renowned writer of espionage fiction, but also in his personal involvements. He guarded his private life with fierce determination, so that even when he finally permitted his life story to be written, there was still one element he insisted be excluded: the women.
Married with children for virtually all his adult life, le Carré – David Cornwell – had a number of secret affairs, usually conducted abroad with women encountered by chance on his travels. These relationships were always intense, dramatic, even tragic, yet each was destined to last no more than a few months. But there was one love affair that withstood the test of time; just one woman in all his life whom he took into the innermost sanctum of his writing and his heart.
The Secret Heart is the account of Suleika Dawson’s unique and enduring love affair with John le Carré. Written with fearless honesty and insight, the book sheds a bold new light on one of the foremost British writers of the 20th century and offers an alternative measure of the man over the literary legend.
Critics Review
-
.‘A posthumous love-letter to David Cornwell…le Carré’s private life seems to be perfectly aligned to his work.’The Daily Telegraph
-
‘Dawson is always aware of the complex duplicities le Carré is indulging in (she’s no fool) … A sly and clever book’
William Boyd, New Statesman -
‘A fascinating insight into how the betrayal, infidelity and lies that are at the heart of Le Carré’s spy novels were duplicated with exhausting precision in his private life’ Daily Mail
-
‘Those interested in le Carré will discover much fascinating detail … intelligent and perceptive’
Adam Sisman, Spectator
See more reviews See fewer reviews
-
‘A profound character study of a great writer’ The Times
-
‘Very sharp and funny’ Daily Telegraph
User Reviews
No reviews yet.
Details
- Author
- Suleika Dawson
- Narrator
- Suleika Dawson
- Duration
- 11 hours 42 minutes
- Release Date
- 18 October 2022
- ISBN
- 9780008533045
- Format
- x-book®
- Publisher
- HarperCollins Publishers
- Genre
- Biography: writers, Autobiography: arts and entertainment, Literary studies: fiction, novelists and prose writers, Espionage and secret services, Memoirs
Synopsis
A Telegraph Book to Read for Autumn 2022 A Times Best Non-fiction Book for Autumn 2022 A Daily Mail Book of the Year 2022 A Waterstones Best Book of 2022: Biography The astonishing new portrait of the master of spy fiction, by the woman he kept secret for almost half his life John le Carré led a life entirely constructed of secrets. First as a British ‘spook’ during the Cold War, then as a world-renowned writer of espionage fiction, but also in his personal involvements. He guarded his private life with fierce determination, so that even when he finally permitted his life story to be written, there was still one element he insisted be excluded: the women. Married with children for virtually all his adult life, le Carré – David Cornwell – had a number of secret affairs, usually conducted abroad with women encountered by chance on his travels. These relationships were always intense, dramatic, even tragic, yet each was destined to last no more than a few months. But there was one love affair that withstood the test of time; just one woman in all his life whom he took into the innermost sanctum of his writing and his heart. The Secret Heart is the account of Suleika Dawson’s unique and enduring love affair with John le Carré. Written with fearless honesty and insight, the book sheds a bold new light on one of the foremost British writers of the 20th century and offers an alternative measure of the man over the literary legend.
About xigxag and the x-book®
xigxag is an independent, UK-based audiobook platform and the UK's only B Corp certified audiobook company. We offer nearly 150,000 audiobooks, all with professional human narration. No AI-generated voices. xigxag is rated an Ethical Consumer Best Buy for audiobooks and a top-rated ethical bookshop.
Our x-book® format is the only fully integrated listen-and-read experience available. See the text on screen as you listen, look up words, take notes, search within the book, and share quotes. It is especially useful for accessibility, language learning, and getting more from non-fiction. Look for the purple x-book® ribbon on the cover, or filter your search by "x-book" to find them.
There is no subscription. You buy the audiobooks you want, you own them permanently, and prices start at $13.95. The more you listen over the year, the less you pay per book, and there is always a selection in Listen for Less from $7.95. You can also send audiobooks as gifts using our audiobook gift cards or in-app gifting.
Every audiobook on xigxag has honest reviews covering both the book and the narration, and our community features make it easy to share what you are listening to, discover what others recommend, and find your next listen.
Download or stream on iOS, Android, or in your browser. Browse the full catalogue at xigxag.co.uk.