I read Mr le Carré’s latest spy novel, Agent Running in the Field last weekend, despite everything.

What do I mean by everything? The answer is, the rather predictable themes of exploitation of young naive idealists, the ruthlessness, pomposity and incompetence of the exploiters, the writer’s unqualified contempt for big business, here and for the second time, Big Pharma – remember The Constant Gardener – the disillusioned and paternal old espionage hand reaching the end of his career, and the treachery of his masters.