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3.5 AVERAGE
3.5 AVERAGE
The problem here is Michael Caine. I failed to appreciate this on its own merits such is the attachment I have to what for me is the quintessential Caine performance in the adaptation.
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Well more 3.61 stars. A good read, but alas and nay yon even alack, the film is in this case the superior product - tighter and more focused. The book though fun and a ripping good yard does tend to wander into odd digressions and side-plots. The writing is still sharp and sarcastic in all the right places, with a good sense of 60s London being given. Will definitely read on further in the 'nameless spy' series.
I'd rather have scored this a 2.5, but despite enjoying the first half quite a bit, I really did get muddled with the constant shifting of tone (not to mention allegiances). The length and complexity of the denouncement ultimately detracted from the overall effect.
OK. Some very funny lines, some very confusing parts, but a lot of the narrative is clumsy or immature sounding.
March 19, 2022 Update I have just learned that this book is the basis for a new 6-part TV mini-series with actor Joe Cole in the Harry Palmer role, previously made famous by Michael Caine. This will surely be on Britbox here in Canada eventually, but until then, we do have the trailer.
The WOOC(P) Files #1
Review of the Penguin Modern Classics paperback edition (April, 2021) of the original Hodder & Stoughton hardcover (1962)
Michael Caine as Harry Palmer, image sourced from https://www.fanpop.com/clubs/michael-caine/images/4567706/title/michael-caine-harry-palmer-photo
I read pretty much all of Deighton's spy fiction in the 1970s to 1990s shortly after most of it was published. Deighton's nameless secret agent (aka Harry Palmer in the film series with Michael Caine) in the Secret Files, his Bernard Samson in the Samson triple trilogy, Adam's Hall's Quiller and John le Carré's George Smiley were my go-to espionage thrillers, after the obligatory James Bonds of Ian Fleming & the several continuation writers of course.
The fall of the Soviet Union, the end of the Cold War and Deighton's retirement from writing novels after the conclusion of the Faith, Hope & Charity trilogy with [b:Charity|171618|Charity (Bernard Samson, #9)|Len Deighton|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1391361720l/171618._SY75_.jpg|3095625] (1996) put all that out of mind for a few decades as new reading interests took over. I recently learned of the Penguin Modern Classics republication of all of Deighton's works being planned over the course of 2021 in an online article Why Len Deighton's Spy Stories are set to Thrill a New Generation (Guardian/Observer May 2, 2021). I couldn't resist a few re-reads to see how the books stood the test of time.
Deighton's nameless protagonist works for a similarly unnamed British secret intelligence service known only by its never explained initials WOOC(P). I found that I also couldn't resist inventing a source for that and thought of it as War Office Operations Centre (Provisional). Unlike the true life spy backgrounds of some of his fellow espionage writers (e.g. Fleming & Carré), Deighton's career had previously been in art and design. He tends to go in for over-complexity in bureaucracy and acronym bafflegab to compensate. The whole case is in fact overly complex and I spent most of the book wondering what was going on. The explanation and the reason for the title does not become evident until the final few chapters clear it up. This is somewhat paralleled in the plot by the agent's perpetual lack of success in completing a crossword puzzle which his boss's secretary subsequently simply dashes off.
The agent's working class origins are played up in most of the publicity of the Deighton books. This was accentuated by Michael Caine's cockney accent in the movies. This doesn't stand out very much on the page in the agent's tastes. Instead of beer, the agent's go-to drink appears to be Tio Pepe sherry, and sometimes Dubonnet with bitters. I did still enjoy the banter and gibes between the agent and his boss and other head office staff:
Trivia and Links
The IPCRESS File was famously filmed as one of actor Michael Caine's first major onscreen roles in The Ipcress File (1965) directed by Sidney J. Furie.
The quality of the film clips in this DVD movie review are much better than those in the dated trailer above.
The WOOC(P) Files #1
Review of the Penguin Modern Classics paperback edition (April, 2021) of the original Hodder & Stoughton hardcover (1962)
'Now my name isn't Harry, but in this business it's hard to remember whether it ever had been.' - the nameless protagonist in The IPCRESS File
Michael Caine as Harry Palmer, image sourced from https://www.fanpop.com/clubs/michael-caine/images/4567706/title/michael-caine-harry-palmer-photo
I read pretty much all of Deighton's spy fiction in the 1970s to 1990s shortly after most of it was published. Deighton's nameless secret agent (aka Harry Palmer in the film series with Michael Caine) in the Secret Files, his Bernard Samson in the Samson triple trilogy, Adam's Hall's Quiller and John le Carré's George Smiley were my go-to espionage thrillers, after the obligatory James Bonds of Ian Fleming & the several continuation writers of course.
The fall of the Soviet Union, the end of the Cold War and Deighton's retirement from writing novels after the conclusion of the Faith, Hope & Charity trilogy with [b:Charity|171618|Charity (Bernard Samson, #9)|Len Deighton|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1391361720l/171618._SY75_.jpg|3095625] (1996) put all that out of mind for a few decades as new reading interests took over. I recently learned of the Penguin Modern Classics republication of all of Deighton's works being planned over the course of 2021 in an online article Why Len Deighton's Spy Stories are set to Thrill a New Generation (Guardian/Observer May 2, 2021). I couldn't resist a few re-reads to see how the books stood the test of time.
Deighton's nameless protagonist works for a similarly unnamed British secret intelligence service known only by its never explained initials WOOC(P). I found that I also couldn't resist inventing a source for that and thought of it as War Office Operations Centre (Provisional). Unlike the true life spy backgrounds of some of his fellow espionage writers (e.g. Fleming & Carré), Deighton's career had previously been in art and design. He tends to go in for over-complexity in bureaucracy and acronym bafflegab to compensate. The whole case is in fact overly complex and I spent most of the book wondering what was going on. The explanation and the reason for the title does not become evident until the final few chapters clear it up. This is somewhat paralleled in the plot by the agent's perpetual lack of success in completing a crossword puzzle which his boss's secretary subsequently simply dashes off.
I found the crossword puzzle I had been working on. Alice had completed it. I had got ten down correct. It was EAT. ... DITHYRAMBE had been quite wrong. I don't know why I'd ever thought it otherwise.
The agent's working class origins are played up in most of the publicity of the Deighton books. This was accentuated by Michael Caine's cockney accent in the movies. This doesn't stand out very much on the page in the agent's tastes. Instead of beer, the agent's go-to drink appears to be Tio Pepe sherry, and sometimes Dubonnet with bitters. I did still enjoy the banter and gibes between the agent and his boss and other head office staff:
'Think you can handle a tricky little special assignment?'This is followed up later with:
'If it doesn't demand a classical education. I might be able to grope around it.'
Dalby said, 'Surprise me, do it without complaint or sarcasm.'
'It wouldn't be the same,' I said.
'You are a bit stupid, and you haven't had the advantage of a classical education.'So overall I did enjoy the re-read, but I do wonder how long it will be before annotated editions will be required to explain long expired businesses such as IBM and BOAC and/or other late 50s/early 60s pop culture references such as Steve Reeves and Danny Kaye.
Dalby was having a little genteel fun with me. 'But I am sure you will be able to overcome your disadvantages.'
'Why think so? You never overcame your advantages.'
Trivia and Links
The IPCRESS File was famously filmed as one of actor Michael Caine's first major onscreen roles in The Ipcress File (1965) directed by Sidney J. Furie.
The quality of the film clips in this DVD movie review are much better than those in the dated trailer above.
I'd rather have scored this a 2.5, but despite enjoying the first half quite a bit, I really did get muddled with the constant shifting of tone (not to mention allegiances). The length and complexity of the denouncement ultimately detracted from the overall effect.
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
It was enjoyable but to be honest not as much as I’d thought. I’m a huge fan of the Michael Caine film and although aware that there were differences I was still looking forward to reading the book. I think it was the writing style that I didn’t quite get on with in parts, but once used to it I felt it was an enjoyable read.
Len Deighton has unparalleled levels of juice. The dude knows how to write a spy thriller, SHEESH.