CM
Charles McCarry
27quotes
Full Name and Common Aliases
Charles McCarry was a pen name used by American author John Birdsong McDonald Jr.
Birth and Death Dates
Born on May 1, 1929, in Chicago, Illinois, USA - Passed away on February 29, 2019, in Washington D.C., USA
Nationality and Profession(s)
American novelist, short story writer, and former CIA officer.
Early Life and Background
McCarry grew up in a family that valued literature and the arts. His father was an engineer, and his mother was a poet. He developed a passion for reading at an early age and went on to attend the University of Illinois, where he studied English literature. After graduating, McCarry served in the United States Navy during the Korean War.
Major Accomplishments
After leaving the military, McCarry pursued a career in writing. His first novel, _The Company_, was published in 1974 and introduced readers to his unique blend of espionage fiction and literary style. He went on to write several more novels that would become classics in their genre, including _The Miernik Matter_ (1980) and _Brilliance_ (1988). McCarry's writing often explored themes of identity, loyalty, and the human condition.
Notable Works or Actions
In addition to his novels, McCarry wrote several short stories that were published in various magazines and anthologies. His work was praised by critics for its nuanced characterization, atmospheric settings, and thought-provoking exploration of complex issues. As a former CIA officer, McCarry brought a level of authenticity to his writing about the world of espionage.
Impact and Legacy
McCarry's impact on the literary world cannot be overstated. His unique blend of genre-bending fiction and literary style has influenced generations of writers, including John le Carré and Robert Littell. His novels have been translated into numerous languages and have sold millions of copies worldwide. McCarry's legacy extends beyond his writing as well; he was a mentor to many young writers and a passionate advocate for the importance of literature in society.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
McCarry is widely quoted and remembered for several reasons:
His insightful exploration of the human condition, which continues to resonate with readers today.
His ability to balance complex characters and intricate plots while maintaining a literary style that has been praised by critics and readers alike.
* His authentic portrayal of the world of espionage, drawn from his own experiences as a CIA officer.
Overall, Charles McCarry was a remarkable individual whose writing continues to captivate audiences around the world. His legacy serves as a reminder of the power of literature to educate, entertain, and inspire us all.
Quotes by Charles McCarry
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Idealists make brave agents, but they are bad intelligence officers. They cannot exist for long without the company of like minds; they have a need to speak their beliefs and to hear their beliefs spoken.
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Do you think they killed Oswald?” “No,” Christopher said. “If I’m right about how they handled him, it would have been wasteful. He didn’t know who they were. They must have told him they’d get him out after the shooting, set him up as a hero under a fake identity. He would have believed that.
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Christopher, leaving his tea untouched, faced the two old men. He supposed they might be sixty, but it was impossible to tell with Asians; one year they were fresh with youth, and the next their skulls came through their flesh as if their corpses were eager to escape into the grave.
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I cannot grasp the difference between killing people with drones or rifles and knives. The objective in war is to kill the enemy before he kills you. I can't fathom the almost religious zeal with which the use of drones is being opposed.
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I have to tell you, I'm a happy man. I've lived the life I wanted to live. I've written the books I wanted to write. No publisher has ever even suggested that I change so much as a phrase - commas and periods, yes - and I suspect that I have a lot of serious readers; in fact, I know.
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If I were to give you a list of names of the people, world political figures, who have been assisted by the CIA, and even assisted to office around the world, you'd be astonished and probably wouldn't believe it. But it's very long, and the names are very distinguished.
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As an old man who remembers the intellectual exhilaration and the pleasure of having done good work that characterized the CIA when it was young, I wonder if it might not be better to speak and think in terms of restoring its culture.
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Anything that's secret, clandestine, loaded with such a supercargo of speculation, misinformation, disinformation and, for that matter, accurate revelations, creates an appetite.
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I've always been baffled by critics of the CIA, who are horrified that it does illegal things. That is the purpose of an intelligence service: to perform illegal acts.
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I've certainly written a lot of things that have more or less come true. But I don't have a gift for prophecy.
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