Bombay Durpun - Nick Harkaway Expands John le Carré’s Spy Universe in 'The Taper Man'

Nick Harkaway has released "The Taper Man," a new spy thriller set in 1965 that follows British spymaster George Smiley to the United States. The novel expands the fictional universe created by his late father, John le Carré, while drawing parallels between Cold War tensions and contemporary global anxieties regarding national decline and international relations.

Published this week in the United Kingdom and scheduled for release on November 17 in the United States by Viking, "The Taper Man" marks Harkaway’s second novel to enter the world established by his father since John le Carré’s death in 2020. The previous entry, "Karla’s Choice," published in 2024, reintroduced readers to Smiley, the methodical spymaster of "The Circus," le Carré’s fictionalized version of MI6.

The narrative sends Smiley across the Atlantic to chase a Soviet agent while navigating a cultural clash with "The Cousins," le Carré’s term for the Central Intelligence Agency. The book’s title refers to a deep-cover agent left behind after a spy ring is busted, tasked with biding time and awaiting instructions. Set two years after the events of le Carré’s breakthrough novel "The Spy Who Came in from the Cold," the story places Smiley in California, offering a "mouse-eye view" of Los Angeles that highlights the spymaster’s alienation from the city’s scale and attitudes.

Harkaway, whose birth name is Nicholas Cornwell, described writing a Cold War story in 2026 as akin to "writing in the mirror." He noted that the global situation remains "weirdly the same in some slightly alarming ways" while also being "weirdly different in some alarming ways," with many of the same political discussions continuing. The novel reflects Britain’s current anxiety about national decline, Russian meddling, and strained relations with its American allies.

Harkaway was acutely aware of the risks involved in entering his father’s literary legacy. George Smiley is second only to James Bond in the pantheon of iconic fictional spies. Harkaway observed that reviews of "Karla’s Choice" often began with readers admitting they expected to dislike the book but did not.

Born the youngest of four sons to David Cornwell, an MI6 agent who wrote under the pen name John le Carré, Harkaway initially kept a distance from his father’s world. He established his own reputation with science fiction thrillers such as "The Gone-Away World," "Gnomon," and "Titanium Noir." However, he was drawn to what he calls the "Smileyverse" early in life, recalling that George Smiley’s voice was among the first he heard as a child when his father read passages from works in progress.

During an interview at his north London home, Harkaway described writing in a small back office while sitting in his father’s "very uncomfortable" chair. Edward Kirke, Harkaway’s editor at Viking, stated that "The Taper Man" is infused with the le Carré spirit, describing it as "profoundly intelligent" and possessing a "beautiful moral murkiness."

The novel contrasts the watching-and-listening role of British intelligence with the aggressive ethos of "The Cousins." Harkaway portrays the American agency as "warriors in this Cold War, not shadows," who are prepared to move quickly and break things, including moral boundaries. This perspective aligns with le Carré’s own outlook, particularly his criticism of U.S. foreign policy during the post-9/11 "war on terror" years.

"My dad’s relationship with the U.S., and U.S. intelligence, was tempestuous, as it was with everywhere that he loved," Harkaway said. "Obviously, inevitably, his greatest scorn is reserved for the U.K., which he adored."

"The Taper Man" reintroduces Circus stalwarts such as the spy chief Control and fleshes out minor characters from le Carré’s previous works, notably Roy Bland, a left-wing firebrand turned MI6 agent who appeared in "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy." Harkaway noted that his father’s writing contained "no throwaway characters," with even taxi drivers and bellhops possessing an interior life that could be explored.

He attributed this depth to le Carré’s real-life experience, stating that people told him secrets. "If you traveled with my dad, you found yourself having a 25-minute conversation with the cab driver after you’d arrived at where you were supposed to be going," Harkaway said. "And this guy would be pouring out his life story to a total stranger and a cab full of people."

Le Carré’s work is often admired by fans as an antidote to the glossy, high-octane adventures of Ian Fleming’s James Bond. His depiction of The Circus emphasizes diligent work, office rivalries, risk, and treachery, offering a gritty view of espionage that has influenced subsequent authors like Mick Herron, creator of the "Slow Horses" series.

Harkaway explained that one of his father’s recurring troubles in the UK was demystifying intelligence work. "Taking away the James Bond glamour and saying, these guys who try to reshape nations — they’re just us," Harkaway said. "And sometimes they’re hungover and sometimes they’re divorced, sometimes they are stupid and sometimes they’re clever. Sometimes the stupid ones overrule the clever ones, and intelligence work is a lottery, is a cock up, is a mess."

The le Carré literary universe continues to expand through various media. Harkaway’s brothers operate a film and television production company behind adaptations such as "The Night Manager" and the upcoming BBC/MGM+ series "Legacy of Spies," which features Matthew Macfadyen as Smiley.

Harkaway confirmed he is writing "at least one more" Smiley book, also set in the 1960s. Regarding the future of the franchise, he acknowledged there are "internal discussions" within the family about inviting other writers to contribute, though no authors have been selected yet. He suggested that candidates would need "great prose" and ideally "be a little bit angry." He also noted that in the male-dominated world of spy thrillers, it would be refreshing to have a woman take on the pen.

"Much as I like to think I’m a very special boy, the world is full of talented writers," Harkaway said. "And if one person can do it, someone else can do it."

W.Atwal--BD