A very good writer. I only read my first le Carré about three years ago: The Spy Who Came in From The Cold. A great book and I saw why he was so highly rated. Since then I've read a lot of them and came to see, once again, how there are good writers and GREAT writers; le Carré in the latter category. His set pieces and dialog are mesmerising. I'm glad to still have many books of his to read but they'll always be ones I keep and can return to.