Harry Palmer series complete consisting of: The Ipcress File; Horse Under Water; Funeral in Berlin; Billion Dollar Brain (Four Volumes)

Deighton, Len

Published by Hodder & Stoughton, 1962

About this Item

The Ipcress File; Horse Under Water; Funeral in Berlin; Billion Dollar Brain (4 volume set)  London: Hodder & Stoughton/Jonathan Cape, 1962-66 8vo., 4 vols; orange, red, black and blue boards, consecutively; lettered in gilt to spines with publishers devices to foot; Vol II and III with classification stamp in colour and blind to upper board; Vol IV with white brail design to upper cover, and in the iconic silver dustwrapper; all dustwrappers unclipped, and designed by Raymond Hawkey; decorative endpapers in all but Vol I; the books generally very good to near-fine, clean, with some mild pushing to spine tips and marking to outer edges of the text block; small stain to p. 11 of Vol I; the wrappers with some darkening to edges and pushing  to spine tips; a couple of small creases, nicks and closed tears; front flap of Vol II with paper flaw causing crease and particularly obscuring the price; Vol III a little more rubbed to spine ends, and faint spotting to inside flap; Vol IV a little more creased to the front flap, and lightly rubbed to rear panel.  First editions. Vol I is the correct first issue, without the reviews. Vol II contains the rare crossword competition insert (here blank). Volume I is inscribed by the author to the title page with the note from the author there are not many copies of this edition!  Deightons pinnacle works, and the books which challenged the nature of British spy fiction. The series follows protagonist Harry Palmer through a variety of challenges and settings, which include Cold War brainwashing, atomic weapons tests, ice-melting technology, secret plots, murders, and eggs contaminated with a deadly virus.  Inspired by his experiences working for an advertising agency (when he was the only employee not to have been educated at Eton), Deighton wrote a novel based around a gritty, nameless, working-class protagonist who he later named Harry Palmer. The character proved hugely popular with the British public, the success of which the author (modestly) puts down to the fact that The Ipcress File was published in the same year as Flemings Dr. No. As well as this series, Palmer also featured in a series of later novels, including An Expensive Place to Die (1967) and Spy Story (1972). Of the present four books, Horse Under Water was the only one not to be adapted to film. The others all starred Michael Caine in the lead role.  Deighton famously avoids book signings, interviews and literary festivals, making signed copies of his works rare indeed. Seller Inventory # 003455

Bibliographic Details

Title: Harry Palmer series complete consisting of: ...

Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton

Publication Date: 1962

Binding: Hardcover

Condition: Very Good

Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good

Signed: Signed by Author(s)

Edition: 1st Edition