The Secret Heart

John le Carré: An Intimate Memoir

By: Suleika Dawson

Narrated by: Suleika Dawson

Length: 11 hrs and 42 mins

Publisher's summary

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.

©2022 Suleika Dawson (P)2022 HarperCollins Publishers

Critic reviews

.‘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

Intimacy and Insight

Cornwell would -- or should -- be even more proud of her. Well played, well writ, well read.

Even better than I expected

The author keeps me engaged on every page. She is a compelling storyteller and beautiful writer. This is not the sort of book I normally read. That said, it is a wonderful literary gift.

A literary gift indeed!

I grabbed hard copy of the book in South Kensington book store in London: the name and the cover caught my attention, I started reading it on the plane that day leaving London - the story took me right in. I would have never finish the book though if wasn’t for audio version (just don’t have time to read here in America, but I spend a lot of time behind the wheal!). The audio version did not disappoint! Both Suleika’s writing and narration are exquisite. The story is compelling and profound, with intricate weaving of history in it. Delicious read!

This is an Outstanding Audiobook by Dawson

It took a while to be able to actually get the audio version here in the United States. I'd read a news article on this book from London and I made a note to keep checking when it would become available here in the USA. This author is absolutely outstanding in her presentation and you can tell that she's intelligent and gifted. Her storytelling and narration are 100% first class. I think she tells "their" story honestly and effectively by letting the reader experience the relationship through her eyes. This book does not drag and it keeps you tuned in. I expected a relatively bland book, which this is not. To the author... job well done!

Loved the writing

Beautiful prose, language, love story, and insight into a human pathology. He as a character mightily flawed.

I’m sorry I listened to this book.

This is too much unflattering information about an author I admired. I’m sorry I know what I know now.