British literary giant and humanitarian John le Carre dies aged 89

British author John Le Carre wrote 25 novels and one memoir in a career spanning six decades, selling some 60 million books worldwide. Photo: AP

John le Carre, the British writer best known for his Cold War espionage novels Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy and The Spy Who Came In From The Cold, has died aged 89, his agent and family said recently.

The author, a former British intelligence officer whose real name was David Cornwell, wrote 25 novels and one memoir in a career spanning six decades, selling some 60 million books worldwide.