Len Deighton
Leonard Cyril Deighton (/ˈdiːtən/; 18 February 1929 – 15 March 2026), known as Len Deighton, was a British author. He was thought to be one of the top three spy novelists of his time (along with Ian Fleming and John le Carré).[1][2]
Len Deighton | |
|---|---|
| Born | Leonard Cyril Deighton 18 February 1929 Marylebone, London, England |
| Died | 15 March 2026 (aged 97) Guernsey, Channel Islands |
| Occupation | Writer, illustrator |
| Language | English |
| Nationality | British |
| Alma mater | Royal College of Art |
| Genre | Spy fiction, military fiction, alternate history, non-fiction |
| Notable works | The IPCRESS File The Bernard Samson novels SS-GB Goodbye, Mickey Mouse Oh! What a Lovely War Bomber |
| Spouse | Ysabele Deighton |
| Children | Alexander, Antoni |
He was a well known military historian, cookery writer, and graphic artist. His first book, The IPCRESS File, was an instant bestseller. The Sunday Times called him "the poet of the spy story".[3]
Deighton was born in the London inner-city of Marylebone. He studied at St Marylebone Grammar School, at Saint Martin's School of Art and at the Royal College of Art. He was married to Ysabele Deighton.
Deighton died on 15 March 2026 at his home in Guernsey, Channel Islands at the age of 97.[4]
References
- ↑ Morrell, David. Thrillers: 100 Must-Reads (2012)Oceanview Publishing. ISBN 978-1608090402.
- ↑ Burchby, Casey. Len Deighton's Spy Novels Still Outsmart Fleming and le Carre After 50 Years in Print (7 December 2011)SF Weekly. Retrieved 11 June 2016.
- ↑ Deighton, Len. The Ipcress File (2015)HarperColins. ISBN 9780007343027.
- ↑ {{cite news|last=Grimes|first=William|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/17/books/len-deighton-dead.html%7Ctitle = Len Deighton, Author of Espionage Best-Sellers, Dies at 97|date=17 March 2026|accessdate=17 March 2026|newspaper=The New York Times|url-access=limited|ref=CITEREF"Len Deighton, Author of Espionage Best-Sellers, Dies at 97". The New York Times