Salman Rushdie, John le Carre 'end 15-year-old literary feud'

After more than a decade of 'one of the most gloriously vituperative literary feuds of recent times,' Indian-origin author Salman Rushdie and popular writer John le Carré have reconciled.

Last month, Rushdie told an audience at the Cheltenham literature festival that he "really" admired Le Carré as a writer.

"I wish we hadn't done it. I think of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy as one of the great novels of postwar Britain," the Guardian quoted him, as saying.

According to the paper, now Le Carré has also made an attempt to end the 15-year-old feud.

"I too regret the dispute. My position was that there is no law in life or nature that says great religions may be insulted with impunity," he told the Times.

"I admire Salman for his work and his courage, and I respect his stand. Does that answer the larger debate which continues to this day?" Le Carré told the Times.

The pair began arguing 15 years ago about the merits of freedom of speech versus the limits of religious tolerance.

It, however, degenerated into Rushdie calling le Carre a 'pompous ass' and le Carre describing Rushdie as "arrogant" and having undergone "self-canonisation".

But following in the footsteps of Paul Theroux and VS Naipaul, who shook hands at last year's Hay festival after a lengthy falling out, Rushdie and Le Carré's wounds appear to have finally healed, the paper said.

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