John le Carré’s southern turn: British intelligence and degenerative satire in post-Cold War Latin America and Africa

Abstract

ABSTRACT This article argues John le Carré’s post-Cold War novels set in Latin America and Africa depart from his earlier narratives by embracing southern attitudes, by discarding his ambiguity toward British intelligence and by critiquing UK foreign relations through the literary strategies of irony and satire. This is elaborated through an evaluation of The Night Manager, The Tailor of Panama and The Mission Song. These stories highlight le Carré’s satirical approach to deny legitimacy to British interventions in the post-Cold War Global South. The conclusion explains the importance of le Carré to intelligence studies and the fact-vs.-fiction debate.