THIS may not be the best week for anyone who feels overwhelmed almost to the point of despair by the travails of this small Republic to look beyond these four green, damp fields in the hope that, elsewhere, better angels prevail.

Despite half a century in the public eye as the author of 23 bestselling novels, John le Carré is still hiding in plain sight. 

JOHN LE CARRÉ is David Cornwell’s penname. The world’s most famous spy thriller writer has given Adam Sisman access to his private papers and some 50 hours of interview time to write his biography. 

The Spy Who Came In From the Cold was published 50 years ago and redefined a genre. Declan Burke on the genius of John le Carré.

A village church is hoping its expansion plans will get a boost from an unusual source – the January sales.