Event Description

Living with My Father and Writing into his World

On 16th November, Nick Harkaway, the author of Karla’s Choice, will give the second John le Carré Memorial Lecture at The Acorn Theatre. Nick Harkaway’s real name is Nicholas Cornwell and he is the fourth son of David Cornwell (who wrote as John le Carré) and his second wife Jane Cornwell. He was born in Cornwall in 1972 and spent his childhood in West Penwith.

Karla’s Choice is written into the world of George Smiley’s Circus and fits in between The Spy Who Came in from the Cold and Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. Richard Osman said it ‘honestly reads like a lost le Carré. Smiley is back at the Circus in the safest of hands.’ Mick Herron agreed: ‘Karla’s Choice is a note-perfect tribute to le Carré that feels fresh and new, and yet fits seamlessly into the world of Smiley’s Circus in its heyday.’

Nick is currently working on a sequel to Karla’s Choice and will speak to us about his life with his parents, the place that Cornwall holds in his heart, and writing into his father’s world.
He has published eight other novels including Titanium Noir and most recently Sleeper Beach. Carl Hiaasen said of his novel The Price You Pay “this novel has high-octane everything” and it is currently being televised as “Kill Jackie” starring Catherine Zeta Jones.

This talk is presented by The Morrab Library with the support of the Arts Society West Cornwall and the Edge of the World Bookshop. Proceeds will help support the work of the library.