Photo: Steve Wood / REX / TT (1994)
Sample of authors
Thomas, Leslie
The Welsh author Leslie Thomas was born in Newport, South Wales. He is one of the most popular British late 20th century authors on account of his sensitive characterization and comical, often farcical, plots. Since most of his novels are set during and immediately after the Second World War they are less popular outside Britain.
Thomas attended school in Newport in 1943 when his father was...
Literary figures
Jackson Lamb
Gender: Male
Misanthropic boss of Slough House, a department for discharged spies and agents in the British MI5. Jackson Lamb, a central figure in a suite of novels by Mick Herron, is a former spy who has gone to seed. He is tall, has an ‘offensive’ face, is cynical and sarcastic, a chain smoker and is careless about his personal hygiene. This doesn’t prevent him and his department from managing to solve sever...