Len Deighton Len Deighton Leonard Cyril Deighton (; born 18 February 1929), known as Len Deighton, is a British author. Deighton is 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
The File on Devlin review called it "a thriller that thrilled indifferently." The "New York Times" called it "an overstuffed, improbable bit of claptrap without suspense, wit or intelligence." The File on Devlin The File on Devlin is a 1969 American TV film for the "Hallmark Hall of Fame". It was based on a novel by Catherine Gaskin. The novel was published in 1965. It was directed by George Schaefer, who had just directed the feature film "Pendulum". He called the film "an old fashioned spy story with a mysterious disappearance, an old castle, dark corridors and secret passages, great fun." Elizabeth Ashley made