Funeral in Berlin -
Len Deighton
1965 - Jonathan Cape, London - First Edition
This is one of a small number of promotional copies with a near fine wraparound band featuring a photograph of 007 author Ian Fleming and Len Deighton in conversation, and a photograph of Deighton with Michael Cane from The Ipcress File movie shoot. A scarce item.
‘Funeral In Berlin’ is the basis for the classic film starring Michael Caine as 'Harry Palmer', produced by Harry Saltzman who made the Bond movies; mention of the film 'From Russia, With Love' appears on the dust-jacket flap, as does a quote from Queen magazine, claiming Deighton's hero was "James Bond's most serious rival". .
‘The links between Len Deighton and Ian Fleming are many; Deighton's brand of spy fiction and his un-named series character (called 'Harry Palmer' on-screen) is in stark contrast to secret agent James Bond, although Fleming was certainly the catalyst to the sixties spy-boom; Fleming read Deighton's early books in proof-form and both authors were published by Cape; the pair met on several occasions and shared the same book designer, Deighton's life-long friend Raymond Hawkey, who composed the majority of his jacket art and also transformed the James Bond paperback series into million-sellers; Deighton contributed to the script of From Russia, With Love at the request of Harry Saltzman, who went on to produce the Harry Palmer film series. Deighton also wrote parts of the Warhead and Never Say Never Again scripts, based on the Thunderball film treatment.’ – Jon Gilbert. References: Milward-Oliver, Len Deighton Annotated Bibliography, 29 (without wraparound band). Gilbert, Ian Fleming The Bibliography, 632.
Octavo (book size 19.4x13.4cm), pp. 320. Publisher dark charcoal paper covered boards, lettered in gilt to spine and blocked in grey and blind to front board, black and white German lettered endpapers. First edition dust jacket priced ‘18s. net’ to lower corner of front flap, all corners trimmed as issued. Publisher’s wraparound band. Condition: Fine but for light spotting to top edge, and short closed tear to lower edge of one page, in near fine dust jacket, with minor toning and rubbing along top edge and wraparound band with very small chip to lower edge and none of the toning usually encountered. Ref: 112091 Price: HK$ 9,000
‘Funeral In Berlin’ is the basis for the classic film starring Michael Caine as 'Harry Palmer', produced by Harry Saltzman who made the Bond movies; mention of the film 'From Russia, With Love' appears on the dust-jacket flap, as does a quote from Queen magazine, claiming Deighton's hero was "James Bond's most serious rival". .
‘The links between Len Deighton and Ian Fleming are many; Deighton's brand of spy fiction and his un-named series character (called 'Harry Palmer' on-screen) is in stark contrast to secret agent James Bond, although Fleming was certainly the catalyst to the sixties spy-boom; Fleming read Deighton's early books in proof-form and both authors were published by Cape; the pair met on several occasions and shared the same book designer, Deighton's life-long friend Raymond Hawkey, who composed the majority of his jacket art and also transformed the James Bond paperback series into million-sellers; Deighton contributed to the script of From Russia, With Love at the request of Harry Saltzman, who went on to produce the Harry Palmer film series. Deighton also wrote parts of the Warhead and Never Say Never Again scripts, based on the Thunderball film treatment.’ – Jon Gilbert. References: Milward-Oliver, Len Deighton Annotated Bibliography, 29 (without wraparound band). Gilbert, Ian Fleming The Bibliography, 632.
Octavo (book size 19.4x13.4cm), pp. 320. Publisher dark charcoal paper covered boards, lettered in gilt to spine and blocked in grey and blind to front board, black and white German lettered endpapers. First edition dust jacket priced ‘18s. net’ to lower corner of front flap, all corners trimmed as issued. Publisher’s wraparound band. Condition: Fine but for light spotting to top edge, and short closed tear to lower edge of one page, in near fine dust jacket, with minor toning and rubbing along top edge and wraparound band with very small chip to lower edge and none of the toning usually encountered. Ref: 112091 Price: HK$ 9,000