The childhood betrayal that forged a master spy writer: He fantasised about killing his conman father, and his mother abandoned him when he was five. No wonder John Le Carré, who has died at 89, was such a sardonic observer, writes RICHARD KAY
Celebrated spy author John Le Carré died in Cornwall on Saturday aged 89
The former spy's upbringing helped forge his ability to write thrilling novels
His father was a ‘five-star conman’ and his mother deserted the family home
Secret services taught him that: ‘Nothing, absolutely nothing, is what it seems’