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Portrait of Len Deighton Photo: Ulf Andersen/Getty Images (1986)

Sample of authors

Deighton, Len

The British author Len Deighton was born as Leonard Cyril Deighton in London. His father was a chauffeur; his mother worked in a hotel kitchen. He was a boy when he helped his father as a volunteer during the London Blitz. After leaving school he worked briefly as a railway clerk, and at the age of seventeen he joined the Royal Air Force Special Investigation Branch as a photographer. He then...

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Literary figures

Henry Wilson

Gender: Male

Stubborn, skilful and respected Scotland Yard superintendent, the main character in a long series of novels and short stories by the couple G.D.H. and Margaret Cole. Henry Wilson is ordinary, with no special features. He is a bachelor – married to his work. On one occasion, he exposes corrupt politicians, and must leave the police force to work as a private detective, but after a while is back i...

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