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Winter: A Bernard Samson Novel
“What raises Deighton's genre to art is not only his absorbing characters but his metaphoric grace, droll wit, command of technical detail . . . and sure sense of place.”—
Washington Post
Peter and Paul Winter, sons of a German businessman, are bonded by childhood trauma. When they grow apart, only to meet again under the shadow of the Third Reich—and then again at the Nuremburg trials—they find themselves divided by war and differing ideals. In this expansive, rich, and deeply tragic portrait of a German family from 1899 to 1945, Len Deighton brilliantly weaves a portrait of the fortunes of two sons, and a nation, over half a century.
Peter and Paul Winter, sons of a German businessman, are bonded by childhood trauma. When they grow apart, only to meet again under the shadow of the Third Reich—and then again at the Nuremburg trials—they find themselves divided by war and differing ideals. In this expansive, rich, and deeply tragic portrait of a German family from 1899 to 1945, Len Deighton brilliantly weaves a portrait of the fortunes of two sons, and a nation, over half a century.
711 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 28, 2023
About the author
Len Deighton
229 books995 followersDeighton was born in Marylebone, London, in 1929. His father was a chauffeur and mechanic, and his mother was a part-time cook. After leaving school, Deighton worked as a railway clerk before performing his National Service, which he spent as a photographer for the Royal Air Force's Special Investigation Branch. After discharge from the RAF, he studied at St Martin's School of Art in London in 1949, and in 1952 won a scholarship to the Royal College of Art, graduating in 1955.
Deighton worked as an airline steward with BOAC. Before he began his writing career he worked as an illustrator in New York and, in 1960, as an art director in a London advertising agency. He is credited with creating the first British cover for Jack Kerouac's On the Road. He has since used his drawing skills to illustrate a number of his own military history books.
Following the success of his first novels, Deighton became The Observer's cookery writer and produced illustrated cookbooks. In September 1967 he wrote an article in the Sunday Times Magazine about Operation Snowdrop - an SAS attack on Benghazi during World War II. The following year David Stirling would be awarded substantial damages in libel from the article.
He also wrote travel guides and became travel editor of Playboy, before becoming a film producer. After producing a film adaption of his 1968 novel Only When I Larf, Deighton and photographer Brian Duffy bought the film rights to Joan Littlewood and Theatre Workshop's stage musical Oh, What a Lovely War! He had his name removed from the credits of the film, however, which was a move that he later described as "stupid and infantile." That was his last involvement with the cinema.
Deighton left England in 1969. He briefly resided in Blackrock, County Louth in Ireland. He did not return to England apart from some personal visits and very few media appearances, his last one since 1985 being a 2006 interview which formed part of a "Len Deighton Night" on BBC Four. He and his wife Ysabele divided their time between homes in Portugal and Guernsey.
Deighton worked as an airline steward with BOAC. Before he began his writing career he worked as an illustrator in New York and, in 1960, as an art director in a London advertising agency. He is credited with creating the first British cover for Jack Kerouac's On the Road. He has since used his drawing skills to illustrate a number of his own military history books.
Following the success of his first novels, Deighton became The Observer's cookery writer and produced illustrated cookbooks. In September 1967 he wrote an article in the Sunday Times Magazine about Operation Snowdrop - an SAS attack on Benghazi during World War II. The following year David Stirling would be awarded substantial damages in libel from the article.
He also wrote travel guides and became travel editor of Playboy, before becoming a film producer. After producing a film adaption of his 1968 novel Only When I Larf, Deighton and photographer Brian Duffy bought the film rights to Joan Littlewood and Theatre Workshop's stage musical Oh, What a Lovely War! He had his name removed from the credits of the film, however, which was a move that he later described as "stupid and infantile." That was his last involvement with the cinema.
Deighton left England in 1969. He briefly resided in Blackrock, County Louth in Ireland. He did not return to England apart from some personal visits and very few media appearances, his last one since 1985 being a 2006 interview which formed part of a "Len Deighton Night" on BBC Four. He and his wife Ysabele divided their time between homes in Portugal and Guernsey.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
November 3, 2024
The backstory for the Bernie Samson books. Focuses on a German family from the late 1800s to the end of WW II, including two brothers, one who becomes a senior officer in the SS and another who emigrates to the US and ends up working with the OSS/CIA. I learned a lot of German history from this book, hopefully correct, especially about Hitler's rise to power. (Pretty disturbing parallels to today.) This book covers a lot of ground and many characters so the characters, including the brothers/protagonists, are not quite as well developed as in the actual Bernie Samson books. Interesting narrative technique of jumping between specific years and events without providing all of the filler. Definitely conveys the sweep of history without getting bogged down.
July 11, 2024
Enjoyable if you’re a Len Deighton fan. It’s idiosyncratic to his work. In itself, it’s a little too mired in the history of the time. Not bad by any means, though.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews