Article: Author le carre was 'tempted' to defect to Russia ; A westcountry author has revealed that he thought about defecting to the Soviet Union during the Cold War because he was curious about life behind the Iron Curtain.

A westcountry author has revealed that he thought about defecting to the Soviet Union during the Cold War because he was curious about life behind the Iron Curtain.

John Le Carre, real name David Cornwell, began writing spy novels while working for M16 and has since gone on to pen more than 20 titles, including political thriller The Constant Gardener, The Tailor of Panama and A Perfect Spy.

Mr Cornwell, who lives in St Buryan, West Cornwall, said that he was tempted to defect to the east.

In an interview in the Sunday Times, he said: "When you spy intensively and you get closer to the border, it seems such a small step to jump... and, you know, find out the rest."

Any thought of defection ...

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