As his literary agent announced, Len Deighton passed away peacefully. The writer was considered “one of the most significant authors of espionage and thriller stories throughout the 20th century.” Deighton’s initial and most well-known book, Ipcress File, centers on an anonymous spy. He subsequently adopted the moniker Harry Palmer.
Len Deighton embodied a spy characterized by thick-rimmed glasses and a gruff demeanor, a stark contrast to the polished and sophisticated spy James Bond and the courteous spy George Smiley, both products of his era by Ian Fleming and John Le Carre. The 1965 film adaptation of Ipcress File featured the acclaimed Michael Caine in the role of Deighton. Deighton, mirroring his fictional spy’s appearance with similar glasses, maintained a private existence, largely avoiding public attention and rarely engaging with reporters.
Nevertheless,
Topics: #spy #deighton #len
Len Deighton, the celebrated creator of spy fiction, has died.