Lots of authors use pseudonyms Mary (me included) nothing sinister about that. In le Carre's case I believe he was still working for the intelligence services when his first novel came out so maybe it was a stipulation.
Der -- agree with you about The Little Drummer Girl. I threw the damn thing across the room in disgust. Also I couldn't believe how badly it was written -- slow, turgid, clumsy, not believable -- and I say this as one who loved The Spy Who Came in from the Cold.
flash -- I do take your point, and in the case of Benjamin I can see why she might not be all that well informed -- or choose not to be. But with Boyd and Cornwell you have two world-renowned writers whose books and subject matter span epochs and continents and they have to be aware of what's happening on the world stage because it's in their professional interest. That's why I'm so baffled about their apparent naivety. With someone like JK Rowling, for instance, it's quite plain why she has the pseudo-left politics she has because she's embedded in the establishment matrix up to her neck. One wouldn't expect anything else but her rejection and disparaging of someone like Corbyn. I would have been shocked if she had endorsed him.
On reflection, I find it astonishing and disturbing that so few well-known fiction authors are not more outspoken about this tory government and the unprecedented times we are living through. Michael Rosen is one.Any others?