Unnamed Hero #1 - The Ipcress File (1962) - Len Deighton

Written by Len Deighton
Read by James Lailey
Format: MP3
Bitrate: 56 Kbps
Unabridged

Len Deighton’s classic first novel, whose protagonist is a nameless spy - later christened Harry Palmer and made famous worldwide in the iconic 1960s film starring Michael Caine. The Ipcress File was not only Len Deighton’s first novel, it was his first best seller and the story that broke the mould of thriller writing.

For the working class narrator, an apparently straightforward mission to find a missing biochemist becomes a journey to the heart of a dark and deadly conspiracy. The film of The Ipcress File gave Michael Caine one of his first and still most celebrated starring roles, while the novel itself has become a classic.

Len Deighton (1929)

Considered one of the top three spy novelists of his time (along with Ian Fleming and John le Carré). In addition he is a highly acclaimed military historian, cookery writer, and graphic artist. ‘The IPCRESS File’ (1962), his first novel, was an instant bestseller and broke the mould of thriller writing. The Sunday Times called him “the poet of the spy story”. Deighton’s first protagonist – a nameless spy christened Harry Palmer in the films – was made famous worldwide in 1960s films starring Michael Caine.

Deighton worked as a railway clerk before his National Service as a photographer for the RAF. He flew in Mosquito fighter/bombers and Lancaster bombers, and later used these experiences when writing his novel ‘Bomber’. He also did laboratory work for the Special Investigation Branch. He studied at Saint Martin’s School of Art in London in 1949, and in 1952 won a scholarship to the Royal College of Art, graduating in 1955. While he was at the RCA he became a “lifelong friend” of fellow designer Raymond Hawkey, who later designed covers for his early books. Deighton then worked as an airline steward with BOAC. Before he began his writing career he worked as an illustrator in New York and, in 1960, as an art director. He illustrated the British first edition cover for Kerouac’s On the Road. He has since used his drawing skills to illustrate a number of his own military history books.

Following the success of his first novels, Deighton became The Observer’s cookery writer and produced illustrated cookbooks. In September 1967 he wrote an article in the Sunday Times Magazine about Operation Snowdrop, an SAS attack on Benghazi during the Second World War. He also wrote travel guides and became travel editor of Playboy, before becoming a film producer. After producing a film adaption of his 1968 novel ‘Only When I Larf’, Deighton bought the film rights to Joan Littlewood and Theatre Workshop’s stage musical ‘Oh, What a Lovely War!’. Deighton wrote the screenplay and was also the producer of the film.

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Original MP3 audio (32kbs@22,050Hz mono) extracted and split into chapters without re-encoding by inAudible 1.75.