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Len Deighton

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Author

The Resume

    (February 18, 1929- )
    Born in London, United Kingdom
    Best known for his spy novels, including ‘The IPCRESS File’ (1962), ‘Funeral in Berlin’ (1964), ‘Billion Dollar Brain’ (1966), ‘Spy Story’ (1974), ‘XPD’ (1981), ‘Berlin Game’ (1983), ‘Spy Hook’ (1988), and ‘Faith’ (1994)
    Wrote the nonfiction books ‘Fighter: The True Story of the Battle of Britain’ (1977) and ‘Blitzkrieg: From the Rise of Hitler to the Fall of Dunkirk’ (1977)

Why he might be annoying:

    He wrote an article about Operation Snowdrop, a Special Air Services attack on Benghazi during World War II, that resulted in the leader of the raid, Lt. Col. David Sterling, filing and winning a libel suit (1967).
    He wrote and co-produced the film ‘Oh! What a Lovely War’ (1969), but was so annoyed by director Richard Attenborough’s changes that he removed his name from the credits and refused to make another movie.
    He rarely gives interviews.
    He says he does not enjoy being an author and has described writing as ‘a mug’s game.’

Why he might not be annoying:

    Before becoming an author, he was an illustrator and designed the cover for the original British printing of Jack Kerouac’s ‘On the Road.’
    His ‘Bomber’ (1970) may be the first novel written on a word processor.
    He is a gourmet who has authored five cookbooks.
    ’The IPCRESS File,’ along with John le Carre’s ‘The Spy Who Came in from the Cold,’ was credited with changing the nature of spy fiction by bringing in a cynical and disillusioned tone.

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 3 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 4 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying