My Haven, Frederick Forsyth: The Bestselling Novelist, 77, In The Study At His Home In Buckinghamshire

Brian Claridge at the British newspaper the Daily Mail offers an inside look at the study of Frederick Forsyth, the author of the classic thriller The Day of the Jackal and The Outsider: My Life in Intrigue.

My wife Sandy and I have lived here for five years now and my study is the most peaceful place to work. It overlooks the garden and all the wildlife and I’m surrounded by family photos and mementoes. 

Like this silver flying helmet, called a ‘bone dome’ by RAF pilots in the 50s, when we flew the single-seat Vampire jet. In those days the RAF was less stuffy and I got in when I was 17 by lying about my age. I flew a Vampire on my own at 18, which I think was a first, and got my wings at 19. 

You can read the rest of the piece and view the photos of Frederick Forsyth's study via the below link:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-3465458/My-haven-Frederick-Forsyth-bestselling-novelist-77-study-home-Buckinghamshire.html

The Amazing Life Of Fredrick Forsyth

Elise Cooper at the American Thinker offers an interview with Frederick Forsyth, author of the classic thriller The Day of the Jackal and The Outsider: My Life in Intrigue. 

When reading Frederick Forsyth's The Outsider, people may wonder if art imitates life or if it is the other way around.  This memoir is not an autobiography of the prolific writer, since it is a series of recollections and not a chronological narration.  It's as if a family member is sitting there, telling his life experiences.  Unfortunately, this will be Forsyth's last book, because he is retiring.  American Thinker had the privilege of discussing with Forsyth his life and the book based upon it.

Although this book reads more like a thriller, readers get a glimpse of those events and personalities Forsyth has come in contact with.  He noted to American Thinker, "I consider myself a journalistic writer, keeping to the facts and making sure they are accurate.  I do not write much emotional stuff or fancy language.  My books were all contemporary current affairs based on what I had seen.  Hell, I made mistakes and have done so many things I chose to write about them, or maybe not."

You can read the rest of the piece via the below link:

http://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2015/11/the_amazing_life_of_frederick_forsyth.html 

Top Five Cold War-Era Spy Thrillers

With the film version of John le Carre's classic spy thriller Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy opening in British cinemas this week, DigitalSpy.com's Simon Reynolds offers his take on the top five Cold War-era spy films.

You can read the piece via the below link:

http://www.digitalspy.com/movies/at-the-movies/a340046/video-top-5-cold-war-era-spy-thrillers-james-bond-ipcress-file-more.html    

I agree with four of his picks.

From Russia With Love is the best James Bond film, in my view, and Ian Fleming's best Bond novel. The film is a first-class spy thriller and I watch it again and again every couple of years. Sean Connery is the best Bond, in my view, and his fight with the late, great Robert Shaw is the best film fight scene.

The Manchurian Candidate is another great spy film. Based on Richard Condon's great novel, the film offers Frank Sinatra in one of his finest film roles and his fight scene with Henry Silva comes close to matching Sean Connery and Robert Shaw's fight in From Russia With Love. Angela Lansbury, Laurence Harvey and James Harvey are terrific in this clever film of a brain-washed Korean War who returns home as a political assassin.

I also like The Ipcress Spy and The Spy Who Came in From the Cold.

But I would not have picked Three Days of the Condor. The idea of the CIA killing their own officers in New York is absurd. The film is a paranoid fantasy. I've spoken to several CIA officers who just hate this film.

My fifth pick would have been The Hunt for Red October (based on the Tom Clancy novel) or The Fourth Protocol (based on the Fredrick Forsyth novel).