Author Nick Harkaway Revives John le Carré’s Spy World in New ‘The Taper Man’

POLICY WIRE — London, UK — As Britain grapples with fears of national decline and foreign interference, a new spy thriller brings the Cold War back to the forefront. ‘The Taper Man,’ authored by Nick Harkaway, expands the iconic literary universe of his late father, John le Carré.

The narrative follows the legendary spymaster George Smiley to the United States in 1965. While there, Smiley must hunt down a Soviet operative while navigating intense cultural friction with ‘The Cousins,’ le Carré’s fictional depiction of the CIA.

The book’s title describes a deep-cover operative who remains in place after a spy network is compromised, waiting patiently for future orders.

Harkaway noted that crafting a story about the Cold War in 2026 feels like looking into a mirror. He observed that while the modern global landscape is alarmingly different in some ways, many of the fundamental discussions remain eerily the same.

Released by Viking, the novel hit UK shelves this week and is scheduled for a U.S. release on November 17. This marks Harkaway’s second foray into his father’s world since the writer passed in 2020. His 2024 work, ‘Karla’s Choice,’ previously brought back the methodical leader of ‘The Circus,’ the fictionalized MI6 used in the series.

Smiley remains a literary icon rivaled only by James Bond, and Harkaway acknowledged the immense pressure of continuing such a beloved legacy. He told The Associated Press that many critics of his previous book admitted they expected to dislike the take-over but were pleasantly surprised.

Harkaway, born Nicholas Cornwell, is the youngest son of David Cornwell, the former MI6 agent who became famous as John le Carré. While he built his own reputation with science-fiction works like ‘The Gone-Away World’ and ‘Gnomon,’ he felt an inevitable pull toward the ‘Smileyverse.’

Harkaway recalled that Smiley’s voice was a constant presence during his childhood, as his father would read drafts aloud to him. During an interview at his north London residence, he mentioned listening to Smiley’s dialogue for several hours a day while he was learning the nuances of language.

Harkaway now writes from a small office in his home, often sitting in his father’s chair, which seat he described as ‘very uncomfortable.’ While it is unknown if the furniture influenced the new book, Edward Kirke, Harkaway’s editor at Viking, remarked that the spirit of ‘The Taper Man’ captures the sharp intelligence and moral complexity found in the father’s writing.

Set two years after ‘The Spy Who Came in,’ the story places Smiley in California. This setting allows Harkaway to provide a ‘mouse-eye view’ of Los Angeles, where the scale and atmosphere feel alien to the protagonist. The novel contrasts the observant nature of British intelligence with the aggressive, boundary-pushing tactics of the American ‘Cousins.’

This perspective aligns with le Carré’s own complicated relationship with U.S. policy, particularly the post-9/11 era. Harkaway noted that while his father loved the United States, he held his deepest criticisms for the British establishment establishment.

The story also features the return of the character Control and expands on minor figures like Roy Bland, a character from ‘Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy.’ Harkaway credited his father’s style for treating no character as disposable; even a taxi driver or a bellhop is given a rich internal life.

Unlike the high-octane glamour of James Bond novels, le Carré’s world focuses on the gritty reality of office politics and diligent work. Harkaway explained that his father’s goal was to demystify espionage, replacing glamour with flawed humans who are simply trying to navigate a chaotic world.

The expansion continues as Harkaway works on at least one more Smiley novel set in the 1960s. While the family has discussed involving other writers, no one has been selected yet. Harkaway stated that any future author needs great prose and a touch of anger, noting that a female perspective would be refreshing in the male-dominated genre.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)