By Federico Varese

John le Carré’s death earlier this month left me stunned. We had been in touch recently and we were planning to meet soon to discuss a television series on how the world of espionage in Russia has changed since the end of the Cold War. I knew of his health problems, but nothing foreshadowed what happened on the night of Saturday December 12. For me David Cornwell (the writer’s real name) was a constant and necessary presence, a person who inspired and guided many of my choices. David was a model of fairness, kindness, integrity and intelligence that I tried, with my limited strength, to emulate.

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