Le Carre

[dylanfanatic]

Can anyone tell me how many times that superb first novel by the genius Le Carre was rejected before being published? I think it was about twelve times. I have tried 'googling' but I am just getting editors single comments. I am glad SOMEBODY in the world of publishing wasn't a total moron!
Thanks folks,
Bob

[jno]

No idea; but was Call for the Dead all that superb? It wasn't until The Spy who Came in from the Cold that his name was really made.

[dylanfanatic]

Sorry jno, I meant 'The Spy Who Came In From The Cold.' I thought that was his first published novel in 1963. However, it was definitely rejected several times before finally being accepted. One publisher saying that "Le Carr'e has no future...." I am 61 and slightly younger than Mr Le Carr'e, and was not aware of any previous novels other than the one mentioned above. Needless to say I have read the rest of his works. There are plenty of 'google' quotes about the reasons for rejection, but none give the number of times the book was rejected before finally gaining acceptance.
Bob

[jno]

Spy was his third novel, so I'm surprised his previous publishers rejected it. Maybe they wanted more upbeat Bond-style fantasies by this time - I remember 007 was all the rage by then.

[dylanfanatic]

Hi jno,
I can see I need to delve more deeply into this. I didn't know he had two novels prior to 'spy' - which was rejected by at least 8 publishers. As a fledgling writer (have the Dip. LCW from O.U.) it is disconcerting when a writer of Le Carr'e,s calibre initially struggles to gain acceptance. Take your point about Fleming/007, pure fantasy, would not have one of his novels in my dustbin, and the films are even worse.
Bob