But I think the real tension lies in the relationship between what you might call the pursuer and his quarry, whether it's the writer or the spy.

Smiley was soaked to the skin and God as a punishment had removed all taxis from the face of London.

In every operation there is an above the line and a below the line. Above the line is what you do by the book. Below the line is how you do the job.

I can't think of anybody worse to live with.

The world of spying is my genre. My struggle is to demystify, to de-romanticise the spook world, but at the same time harness it as a good story.

Americans believe that if you know something, you should do something about it.

Every writer knows he is spurious; every fiction writer would rather be credible than authentic.