Spy master le Carré ends 38-year deal to join Penguin

ne of the country's most famous authors has left his publisher and defected to Penguin in a move that has shocked the book world.

John le Carré was signed to Hodder & Stoughton for 38 years, writing 16 spy novels and making a sizeable fortune.

The London book world viewed the partnership as one of the most solid unions in the industry.

The author even met his wife Valérie Jane Eustace at the publishing house.

However, at 78, the former spy, whose real name is David Cornwell, decided he would be better off represented by Penguin claiming the opportunity to be part of the "classic paperback house" was "unmissable".