Nektar Geist
An Onion Among Onions
Len Deighton, the beloved spy novelist best known for writing the Ipcress File, has died aged 97.
In a career that spanned decades, Mr Deighton wrote over 38 books but his most famous work remained his debut novel the Ipcress File which featured a nameless spy - later christened Harry Palmer.
The book broke the mould of thriller writing and featured a wisecracking working-class narrator and a mission that turned into a deadly conspiracy as he uncovered a bizarre brain drain among scientists.
The film adaptation, released in 1965 and directed by Sidney J Furie starred Sir Michael Caine as Harry Palmer in one of his most famous roles.
It was recently remade as TV series starring Peaky Blinders actor Joe Cole.
Mr Deighton wrote another 38 books, including a number of historical books about the Second World War and a further series of spy novels.
He was also a cookery writer and helped to introduce French cuisine to the UK.
In addition, he was a keen illustrator and illustrated more than 200 book covers, including the first UK edition of Jack Kerouac's On The Road.
His death was confirmed by his literary agent.
No cause of death was given.
Mr Deighton was born in Marylebone on February 18 1929. His parents worked for a wealthy family, his mother as a cook and his father as a chauffeur.
It would seem the young Mr Deighton was destined to write spy novels after he watched his mother's client - Anna Wolkoff - dragged off by the British Security Services and accused of being a Nazi spy during the height of World War Two.
In a career that spanned decades, Mr Deighton wrote over 38 books but his most famous work remained his debut novel the Ipcress File which featured a nameless spy - later christened Harry Palmer.
The book broke the mould of thriller writing and featured a wisecracking working-class narrator and a mission that turned into a deadly conspiracy as he uncovered a bizarre brain drain among scientists.
The film adaptation, released in 1965 and directed by Sidney J Furie starred Sir Michael Caine as Harry Palmer in one of his most famous roles.
It was recently remade as TV series starring Peaky Blinders actor Joe Cole.
Mr Deighton wrote another 38 books, including a number of historical books about the Second World War and a further series of spy novels.
He was also a cookery writer and helped to introduce French cuisine to the UK.
In addition, he was a keen illustrator and illustrated more than 200 book covers, including the first UK edition of Jack Kerouac's On The Road.
His death was confirmed by his literary agent.
No cause of death was given.
Mr Deighton was born in Marylebone on February 18 1929. His parents worked for a wealthy family, his mother as a cook and his father as a chauffeur.
It would seem the young Mr Deighton was destined to write spy novels after he watched his mother's client - Anna Wolkoff - dragged off by the British Security Services and accused of being a Nazi spy during the height of World War Two.
