This blog is sad to report the fictional "demise" of C.O.B.R.A.S. blogger, artist and spy fiction writer Armstrong Sabian, who reported last week that his excellent website - Mister 8 - will soon be no more, as the demands of family and work life take precedence over reporting on and writing spy fiction.
This is a loss, but we wish the pseudonymous Armstrong well. His site carried many fascinating blogposts on the arcana and lost heroes of the espionage fiction world, including many articles on Len Deighton and his arguably most famous creation, Harry Palmer.
Indeed, in 2009, Armstrong started a series of posts called "The Harry Palmer Files" in which he looked at all aspects of the Harry Palmer mythology - the films, the books, the design, the music - with a fine toothed comb.
With Armstrong's permission, I have reproduced below his review of Deighton's first book, The Ipcress File. Thanks for the blogs, Armstrong, and for contributing to the C.O.B.R.A.S.!
This is a blog about the books, film and world of British thriller and spy novel author Len Deighton, writer of The Ipcress File, Funeral in Berlin, SS-GB, Bomber, Berlin Game and many other books. This blog also covers the spy thriller genre and the Cold War more widely. It is a companion website to the main Deighton Dossier archive (link on the right). It is the only website + blog endorsed by the author himself! Content (c) Rob Mallows 2008-22 unless otherwise stated.
Friday 23 November 2012
Saturday 10 November 2012
Who needs Apple Maps? Kurt Meyer's incredible Ipcress File location hunt ...
Courtesy of the ever-helpful Harry Palmer website, I've come across what must be the most detailed examination ever of the film of The Ipcress File.
Someone called Kurt Meyer has taken what looks like hours of effort in researching and photographing almost every film location from the film, creating in the process a wonderful frame of reference for this classic film.
Check out the website here. It's an incredible effort.
Someone called Kurt Meyer has taken what looks like hours of effort in researching and photographing almost every film location from the film, creating in the process a wonderful frame of reference for this classic film.
Check out the website here. It's an incredible effort.
Sunday 4 November 2012
Deighton Dossier exclusive - new Q&A by Len Deighton
All gone now, of course.... |
After catching up recently with him in
London, Len Deighton kindly agreed to do another short Q&A interview,
giving fans and blog readers more news and insight on his work and his life.
We’re very grateful that he’s chosen to do so, and I hope readers find the
interview interesting. It’s split into two parts.
Part one covers the topic of
Berlin, one of the main ‘characters’ if you like in many of Len’s novels. I’ve
just returned from there and the city retains it’s special aura, and the
Berliner Luft is still present.
The second part is Len answering questions
submitted by readers of the blog.
Enjoy!
Part 1 - ‘Berlin’
The Deighton Dossier: One of the most memorable phrases from
Berlin Game I can recall instantly is this by Bernard Samson: “Did you ever say hello to a girl you almost
married long ago? Did she smile the same, captivating smile, and give your arm
a hug in a gesture you’d almost forgotten? That’s how I felt about Berlin every
time I came back here.”
Alongside Fiona and Gloria, one can almost regard Berlin as the third
woman in Bernard’s life, so strong is the pull of the relationship (with Tante Lisl
the embodiment of the city, perhaps). What were your impressions of Berlin when
you visited it for the first time? How did they change over time?
Len Deighton: At a London film festival
I met an East German film director and we became close friends. When I first
went to Berlin I was coming from Czechoslovakia in a very old VW and my
destination was the East Sector. I came to know the East (communist) sector
fairly well and made friends there, before spending any time in the West.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)