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Bernard Samson #9
Charity
A BERNARD SAMSON NOVEL
'The master of espionage writing at his brilliant best' Mail on Sunday
With the Cold War drawing to a close in the East, Bernard Samson is still haunted by the events that have turned his life upside down over the last ten years. But when he takes a train from Moscow to Berlin, he stumbles across a clue that may lead him to the truth at last - even though, in finding the answers, he could lose everything. Bringing the 'Faith, Hope and Charity' trilogy, and Bernard Samson's story, to a stunning conclusion, this final volume brilliantly shows the human cost of the spying game.
'The series represents a magnificent achievement in the field of espionage writing and Samson remains one of the great spies' Irish Times
'The master of espionage writing at his brilliant best' Mail on Sunday
With the Cold War drawing to a close in the East, Bernard Samson is still haunted by the events that have turned his life upside down over the last ten years. But when he takes a train from Moscow to Berlin, he stumbles across a clue that may lead him to the truth at last - even though, in finding the answers, he could lose everything. Bringing the 'Faith, Hope and Charity' trilogy, and Bernard Samson's story, to a stunning conclusion, this final volume brilliantly shows the human cost of the spying game.
'The series represents a magnificent achievement in the field of espionage writing and Samson remains one of the great spies' Irish Times
265 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 1, 1996
138 people are currently reading
756 people want to read
About the author
Len Deighton
221 books928 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 has not returned 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 divide 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 has not returned 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 divide their time between homes in Portugal and Guernsey.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 107 reviews
October 19, 2014
I recently visited Berlin for the first time and it made me want to reread the Bernie Samson ("Simpson," as the D-G calls him) series, so I came home and read all nine of them in a row.
I had forgotten how astute Deighton's analysis is of office politics and dynamics. We so love to see Dicky Cruyer pouring his precious coffee and dumping off all his work onto Bernie. The lion-skin rug is a brilliant addition to a superb characterization.
All of the characters are fleshed out and real. Werner is my favorite, the poor helpless dolt, at least when it comes to Zena.
I am confused by the ending, though.
SPOILER
We know that Werner killed Thurkettle. We know this. So Bernie's final summing up for the group in Frank's office is not accurate. Bernie tells us he has doubts about Prettyman's role, but he sticks to that story. Why does he do this? It's not really consistent with other times that Bernie has ferreted out the answer. In those instances, he figures out the truth and tells it, at least to us.
Also CHARITY could never stand alone as LD intended all the books to do.
I never understood why Stinnes and Harry Kennedy were with Fiona on the autobahn that night. It was never explained. I thought she was supposed to drive there herself.
And I thought the Soviets were supposed to be vindictive and methodical about taking their revenge. They track agents and kill them when they have betrayed the state. And yet Fiona lives her life as before in a fashionable apartment strolling off to work every day in London Central. I thought SIS were going to keep her hidden.
Those are small points and probably evidence of my own failure to grasp everything together.
I have not posted a review of any of the other eight books and probably won't. I am leaving five stars here for the entire body of work. This series ranks with the LeCarre/Smiley books, though funnier and less convoluted. Together they stand atop the Cold War espionage genre.
It's taken me three weeks to read the nine books. I only wish there were nine more.
I had forgotten how astute Deighton's analysis is of office politics and dynamics. We so love to see Dicky Cruyer pouring his precious coffee and dumping off all his work onto Bernie. The lion-skin rug is a brilliant addition to a superb characterization.
All of the characters are fleshed out and real. Werner is my favorite, the poor helpless dolt, at least when it comes to Zena.
I am confused by the ending, though.
SPOILER
We know that Werner killed Thurkettle. We know this. So Bernie's final summing up for the group in Frank's office is not accurate. Bernie tells us he has doubts about Prettyman's role, but he sticks to that story. Why does he do this? It's not really consistent with other times that Bernie has ferreted out the answer. In those instances, he figures out the truth and tells it, at least to us.
Also CHARITY could never stand alone as LD intended all the books to do.
I never understood why Stinnes and Harry Kennedy were with Fiona on the autobahn that night. It was never explained. I thought she was supposed to drive there herself.
And I thought the Soviets were supposed to be vindictive and methodical about taking their revenge. They track agents and kill them when they have betrayed the state. And yet Fiona lives her life as before in a fashionable apartment strolling off to work every day in London Central. I thought SIS were going to keep her hidden.
Those are small points and probably evidence of my own failure to grasp everything together.
I have not posted a review of any of the other eight books and probably won't. I am leaving five stars here for the entire body of work. This series ranks with the LeCarre/Smiley books, though funnier and less convoluted. Together they stand atop the Cold War espionage genre.
It's taken me three weeks to read the nine books. I only wish there were nine more.
October 29, 2014
If you have read the ' Description ' of this book you will see it states Tessa was shot in Poland. To avoid confusion, no she wasn't, she was shot in East Germany.
Deighton said he wrote this in answer to pleas from his readers to know what happened in the end. They meant of course, Bernard, Fiona, and more to the point, Gloria.
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
DO NOT READ BELOW THIS LINE IF YOU HAVE NOT READ THE BOOK
I found the conclusion to be very unsatisfactory. I never really liked Fiona. She gave up her marriage and children for admittedly a worthy cause, if you were not married with children. Knowing that she would be returning to her previous life, she entered into an adulterous relationship with the same man for two extended periods. On her return she then was particularly nasty about Bernard's relationship with Gloria when he understood Fiona had gone for good, whilst she kept quiet about her own misdemeanours. It is much to Bernard's credit that he did not tell her that Werner had told him about her adultery.
The conclusion for Gloria was even more unsatisfactory. Presumably in order to use the predominate characters, excluding the married ones, she ends up with Bret. Whether this was a way of downgrading her to ' older man fetish ' category, I don't know, but it doesn't match with the way her character was written previously.
There is also the hint that this a quirk in Bret's character. We know from Spy Sinker that Bret had been in love with Fiona from the first time he met her, and was devastated when she was unfaithful to Bernard with Kennedy, strange in itself. We now have him getting married to Bernard's other love, Gloria, having not shown any previous interest in her. It's almost as though having not got Fiona, he's settled for Gloria. A psychiatrist would have a field day!
I cannot imagine that I am the only reader who felt that Bernard should have told Fiona to take a hike having largely ruined her marriage and the children's life, and taken off with Gloria and the kids who effectively knew her more in their formative years than their mother.
I have given it a good rating as Hope left too much hanging in the air.
Deighton said he wrote this in answer to pleas from his readers to know what happened in the end. They meant of course, Bernard, Fiona, and more to the point, Gloria.
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
DO NOT READ BELOW THIS LINE IF YOU HAVE NOT READ THE BOOK
I found the conclusion to be very unsatisfactory. I never really liked Fiona. She gave up her marriage and children for admittedly a worthy cause, if you were not married with children. Knowing that she would be returning to her previous life, she entered into an adulterous relationship with the same man for two extended periods. On her return she then was particularly nasty about Bernard's relationship with Gloria when he understood Fiona had gone for good, whilst she kept quiet about her own misdemeanours. It is much to Bernard's credit that he did not tell her that Werner had told him about her adultery.
The conclusion for Gloria was even more unsatisfactory. Presumably in order to use the predominate characters, excluding the married ones, she ends up with Bret. Whether this was a way of downgrading her to ' older man fetish ' category, I don't know, but it doesn't match with the way her character was written previously.
There is also the hint that this a quirk in Bret's character. We know from Spy Sinker that Bret had been in love with Fiona from the first time he met her, and was devastated when she was unfaithful to Bernard with Kennedy, strange in itself. We now have him getting married to Bernard's other love, Gloria, having not shown any previous interest in her. It's almost as though having not got Fiona, he's settled for Gloria. A psychiatrist would have a field day!
I cannot imagine that I am the only reader who felt that Bernard should have told Fiona to take a hike having largely ruined her marriage and the children's life, and taken off with Gloria and the kids who effectively knew her more in their formative years than their mother.
I have given it a good rating as Hope left too much hanging in the air.
June 3, 2020
In Charity (1996), Bernard Samson finally gets to unravel the truth about the previous ten years. After the numerous twists it is very gratifying to see Bernard piece it all together and to achieve closure. There's even a hint that things might start to improve for Bernard. I hope so. He deserves it.
The supremely enjoyable Bernard Samson series ends in a satisfying manner, with all the loose ends tidied up. I thoroughly enjoyed all nine books. I don't think the Bernard Samson series is quite up there with John le Carré's Karla trilogy but who cares, it is still absolutely wonderful.
I still have to read the prequel, Winter: A Berlin Family, 1899-1945, which covers the years 1899–1945, and provides the backstory to some of the characters. I can't wait for that final treat.
4/5
The supremely enjoyable Bernard Samson series ends in a satisfying manner, with all the loose ends tidied up. I thoroughly enjoyed all nine books. I don't think the Bernard Samson series is quite up there with John le Carré's Karla trilogy but who cares, it is still absolutely wonderful.
I still have to read the prequel, Winter: A Berlin Family, 1899-1945, which covers the years 1899–1945, and provides the backstory to some of the characters. I can't wait for that final treat.
4/5
December 24, 2022
Deighton beautifully ties up the personal, professional, and espionage issues that run throughout the series. And the Author’s Note (in the 2011 edition) engagingly describes Deighton’s fascination with Berlin and how he developed his characters. I’m sorry to see the series end.
December 22, 2014
Wondering what to do with myself post-Samson. Always compelling drama and a good conclusion to nine wonderful episodes. Great work Len Deighton.
November 14, 2025
Bernard, what a guy. I'm sorry to say goodbye to him. I hope the Harry Palmer books are this funny.
November 17, 2018
Originally published on my blog here in January 2005.
This is the concluding novel not just of the long running Bernard Samson saga but of Len Deighton's fiction as a whole. It brings to a close a series of attempts to deal with the ending of the Cold War - an event with a big impact for an author of spy fiction: different settings tangential to the genre in Mamista, City Of Gold, and Violent Ward, and the story of the downfall of Communism itself in the last trilogy of Samson novels. I suspect that the difficulty Deighton experienced in finding a new theme appropriate to the times was a contributing factor to his stopping fiction writing when he did.
The reader's expectation with Charity is that it will wrap up the remaining loose ends, and leave Bernard and Fiona's future sorted out. Having read Spy Sinker, followers of the series know more about what really happened on the day of Fiona's return to West Berlin than Bernard does - so the big question is really how much does he find out, and how much pain does he bring on himself and those around him by his investigations?
Although Charity is set before the end of Soviet control over Eastern Europe, Deighton makes sure we know what happens after the end of the novel with little ironic reminders - such as describing a falling person as looking "like a toppling statue of a tyrant". The ending itself is rather abrupt; the last chapter comes with something of a jerk. It is really about new beginnings for the characters, starting relationships over again - entirely appropriate, given the huge changes about to impact their world.
Three series characters dominate British spy fiction: James Bond, George Smiley, and Bernard Samson. They are all quite different from each other, even if you could argue that Bernard is very similar to Deighton's earlier Harry Palmer character and something of a mix of the other two. Smiley is all subtle intellectual; James Bond is all brute force action. Bernard does both parts, and this makes him both more exciting to read about than Le Carré's character and more interesting and certainly less unpleasant than Ian Fleming's. More is revealed about Bernard's inner character than about either Smiley or Bond, even though his narration (and neither Smiley or Bond is every allowed the luxury of telling their own story) is written in such a way that it is clear that Bernard is hiding quite a lot. This of course makes him more believable as a character, as does the way that his powers as an intellectual spy master and an action hero are both carefully limited by Deighton, presumably to this end. The series (ten novels in all, including a prequel not involving Bernard personally) is a substantial body of work, intimately connected to the fall of Communist East Germany and thus a major fictionalisation of some of the most important historical events of the last half century.
This is the concluding novel not just of the long running Bernard Samson saga but of Len Deighton's fiction as a whole. It brings to a close a series of attempts to deal with the ending of the Cold War - an event with a big impact for an author of spy fiction: different settings tangential to the genre in Mamista, City Of Gold, and Violent Ward, and the story of the downfall of Communism itself in the last trilogy of Samson novels. I suspect that the difficulty Deighton experienced in finding a new theme appropriate to the times was a contributing factor to his stopping fiction writing when he did.
The reader's expectation with Charity is that it will wrap up the remaining loose ends, and leave Bernard and Fiona's future sorted out. Having read Spy Sinker, followers of the series know more about what really happened on the day of Fiona's return to West Berlin than Bernard does - so the big question is really how much does he find out, and how much pain does he bring on himself and those around him by his investigations?
Although Charity is set before the end of Soviet control over Eastern Europe, Deighton makes sure we know what happens after the end of the novel with little ironic reminders - such as describing a falling person as looking "like a toppling statue of a tyrant". The ending itself is rather abrupt; the last chapter comes with something of a jerk. It is really about new beginnings for the characters, starting relationships over again - entirely appropriate, given the huge changes about to impact their world.
Three series characters dominate British spy fiction: James Bond, George Smiley, and Bernard Samson. They are all quite different from each other, even if you could argue that Bernard is very similar to Deighton's earlier Harry Palmer character and something of a mix of the other two. Smiley is all subtle intellectual; James Bond is all brute force action. Bernard does both parts, and this makes him both more exciting to read about than Le Carré's character and more interesting and certainly less unpleasant than Ian Fleming's. More is revealed about Bernard's inner character than about either Smiley or Bond, even though his narration (and neither Smiley or Bond is every allowed the luxury of telling their own story) is written in such a way that it is clear that Bernard is hiding quite a lot. This of course makes him more believable as a character, as does the way that his powers as an intellectual spy master and an action hero are both carefully limited by Deighton, presumably to this end. The series (ten novels in all, including a prequel not involving Bernard personally) is a substantial body of work, intimately connected to the fall of Communist East Germany and thus a major fictionalisation of some of the most important historical events of the last half century.
Read
December 12, 2020I remain unsure about my feelings regarding this tenth and concluding volume of what are loosely known as the Samson Stories. In one sense, most things seem to work out. In another sense, and referring to almost exactly the same details, most things resolve themselves according to an older cis male fantasy. Bernard ends the sequence fully convinced that he now knows everything about Fiona’s story when, as usual, he still has certain details incorrect, especially as regards his oldest friend Werner. There is someone at the root of it all to blame for everything that has gone wrong, and Bernard is (apparently) spared the fate of his father—a concern which has been hanging over him for years. One thing is undeniable: I enjoy the sequence immensely, even if I’m not 100% satisfied with its resolution.
November 5, 2020
'Charity', the 3rd book in the last trilogy following Brit spy Bernard (Bernd) Samson in the Cold War era, wraps things up nicely. Or not, depending on your interpretation of the concluding action. The entire series of 9 novels (plus a prequel, which I've yet to read) is quite an achievement for Len Deighton, who not only keeps all the players intact and consistent throughout but also makes their lives and activities interesting enough to keep us wanting more.
As Charity begins, Bernard Samson's home life is in disarray. His wife Fiona, now a big shooter in the British spy hierarchy since she was exfiltrated from the East after her successful adventures there, is married to her job and seemingly has little time, or interest, in her husband. Their children live with relatives, Bernard's beautiful girlfriend, also working in Brit intelligence, has jettisoned him. Fiona's sister, Tessa, has perished under cloudy circumstances during the operation to extract her sister from the East. And various players in the upper echelons of the spy game have enjoyed dalliances with both his wife and ex-girlfriend. So, this is the backdrop for 'Charity'.
To me, Charity is the search for the truth behind the murder of Tessa during Fiona's escape from Russia. In the confusing gun battle at an exit off the Autobahn in East Germany, Tessa was shot and her body burned, ostensibly to pose her as her sister to enable Fiona's escape. But who shot her, who set it all up, and what was the real reason? Sounds pretty simple but, as expected, it's quite a bit larger and more complex and Bernard spends the entire story of Charity in pursuit of the truth.
As is consistent throughout the entire series, Deighton's writing is excellent. The story itself takes some concentration to follow, since deception, lying, and delivering 'alternative facts' seem to be common among the characters, but by its conclusion we're (fairly) certain of the circumstances surrounding Tessa's demise. And Fiona's message at the finale was a fine conclusion to this remarkable series. Deighton's Samson trilogy of trilogies is indeed a triumph of espionage fiction.
As Charity begins, Bernard Samson's home life is in disarray. His wife Fiona, now a big shooter in the British spy hierarchy since she was exfiltrated from the East after her successful adventures there, is married to her job and seemingly has little time, or interest, in her husband. Their children live with relatives, Bernard's beautiful girlfriend, also working in Brit intelligence, has jettisoned him. Fiona's sister, Tessa, has perished under cloudy circumstances during the operation to extract her sister from the East. And various players in the upper echelons of the spy game have enjoyed dalliances with both his wife and ex-girlfriend. So, this is the backdrop for 'Charity'.
To me, Charity is the search for the truth behind the murder of Tessa during Fiona's escape from Russia. In the confusing gun battle at an exit off the Autobahn in East Germany, Tessa was shot and her body burned, ostensibly to pose her as her sister to enable Fiona's escape. But who shot her, who set it all up, and what was the real reason? Sounds pretty simple but, as expected, it's quite a bit larger and more complex and Bernard spends the entire story of Charity in pursuit of the truth.
As is consistent throughout the entire series, Deighton's writing is excellent. The story itself takes some concentration to follow, since deception, lying, and delivering 'alternative facts' seem to be common among the characters, but by its conclusion we're (fairly) certain of the circumstances surrounding Tessa's demise. And Fiona's message at the finale was a fine conclusion to this remarkable series. Deighton's Samson trilogy of trilogies is indeed a triumph of espionage fiction.
July 3, 2025
It’s a very good book, but it’s the ninth in a series (three trilogies) all about the same characters, and they all follow a chronological story line. The author tried to make each book stand alone, but you really need to read all nine in order to get the most out of the stories. The first trilogy is Game, Set, Match. The second trilogy is Hook, Line, and Sinker, and the last trilogy is Faith, Hope, and Charity. The main character is Bernard Sampson, an MI6 agent assigned to Easy Germany. Chronologically it starts in the 70s and goes up to and beyond the fall of the Berlin Wall and the Soviet Union.
April 29, 2018
Having now finished the series ending with 'Charity', I had previously placed my review with the penultimate book in the series of 10 novels and of this particular trilogy: 'Hope'.
As that review applied to the whole series, I will not repeat those words again, but simply say:This
This is some of, if not the best, fiction series I have ever read and it reminds me of a mixture of 1950s E. Blyton Adventures and Hardy Boy mysteries, with the research of a 1970s to 2000 Michener, or Rutherford and then using as a prequel to the 21st century writers set of trilogies : Ken Follett.
I loved the experiences of reading each novel as much as reading the whole 10 novel series. Reading "Winter" is in my opinion essential, but where or when in the order of the novels you choose, wifi give you YOUR special experience to wrap up everything the way you want!
As that review applied to the whole series, I will not repeat those words again, but simply say:This
This is some of, if not the best, fiction series I have ever read and it reminds me of a mixture of 1950s E. Blyton Adventures and Hardy Boy mysteries, with the research of a 1970s to 2000 Michener, or Rutherford and then using as a prequel to the 21st century writers set of trilogies : Ken Follett.
I loved the experiences of reading each novel as much as reading the whole 10 novel series. Reading "Winter" is in my opinion essential, but where or when in the order of the novels you choose, wifi give you YOUR special experience to wrap up everything the way you want!
March 23, 2012
Please see my review of Winter, the prequel to the triple trilogy which concludes with Charity. To read this book you really need to have read the preceding 9 books. Disclaimer: you may still not fully understand the entire series since, like the espionage of the cold war, you may never truly understand every aspect of each character. Of all the books I have read, this is one of the few sets for which I have kept a hard copy - every so often I have to go back and follow up a question. Similar to Le Carre', very like Graham Greene, and further followed by Alan Furst. A magnum opus.
December 28, 2013
I was really disappointed with the conclusion (?) of the Bernard Samson series. The ending is pure Bernie...you feel like to guy is going to finally snap and lash out at his handlers, his wife, his friends at life in general. But no...it fades into a sort of resigned acceptance that life stinks and then you die. I had hoped for better for Bernie...but I guess that's the point.
December 15, 2018
Journey's end. After eight novels exploring Bernard Samson's odyssey through a labyrinthine plot involving spies, assassins and his own family, Len Deighton wraps up the story with Charity, the final book in the enealogy. And it's good. I'm not sure it's everything I wanted, but it's a fairly satisfactory conclusion to the saga.
After returning from an unexpectedly harrowing mission in East Berlin, Bernard Samson plunges headfirst into his investigation of his sister-in-law Tessa's murder, but finds opposition from everyone he asks for help. Meanwhile, his children are still in his in-laws' clutches and Fiona doesn't want to do anything about it. Gloria, the other woman he loves, is also still around, muddying the waters for him. Can Bernard find justice for an innocent woman and put his own life back together?
Spoilers...
Deighton manages to find compelling reasons why each of the novels in this series are titled as they are, and Charity is no exception. Throughout the book, Samson asks people for help, and each begrudgingly agrees, but only after advising him to rethink his course. Samson perceives their reluctant assistance as charity, but the real charity is their urging him to stop being so reckless. And, more often than not, it's the others who pay for his doggedness. The Swede says he'll help Samson kidnap his kids and escape England and Fiona's disgusting family, but he's murdered before he can get the plane ready. Werner is shot by Cindy Prettyman after Bernard reveals the existence of the lock box that British Intelligence -- and Werner, specifically -- steals. Jim Prettyman was dying anyway, but it seems Samson's badgering of him hastened his demise (not that I feel sorry for him). Ultimately, it's Bret Rensselaer who gives him the final, deciding act of charity by sharing with him Fiona's suicide note, letting him know that his wife is remorseful, knows she was in the wrong, and really does love him. Through the kindness of those he can barely bring himself to trust, Bernard Samson has hope of finally being happy.
The journey getting there is another great plot from Deighton. Samson is essentially investigating a mystery to which we already know the answer, but somehow Deighton manages to make it exciting nonetheless. When Samson brought Werner to the Autobahn to survey the site of Thurkettle's death, I found myself fully engrossed, waiting on baited breath for Samson to figure out what I already knew. Bringing the audience in on the secret before the protagonist runs the risk of making said hero look dim, but Deighton instead uses it to show off Bernard's keen mind; the crime has been so cleverly covered up that it looks next to impossible to be brought to light, and yet Bernie figures it out still, and we marvel at him. It still irks me that Thurkettle was killed before he and Samson could have the showdown Deighton set up (and, perversely, continued to tease even after the killer's demise), but the detective work was still plenty suspenseful.
I also liked the way Samson decides to deal with his family situation. Taking his children far away seems crazy, but what other avenue does he have? His wife doesn't want the kids anymore, his father-in-law is threatening to sue for custody (which he will certainly win), and he has no money and no one who wants to help him. Part of me hoped this would play out and Samson would escape with the kids and Gloria. Such wasn't the case, and Samson will end up staying with Fiona while Gloria marries Bret Rensselaer. I liked the resolution between Bernard and Bret, their sort of burying whatever hatchets were left (Spy Sinker revealed to us that Bret never really liked Bernard, and was even afraid of him, but I think he's being sincere when he says he respects him here). Fiona's letter was perfect, and necessary to get the readers' forgiveness; she cops to everything, admits this is all her fault, and finally exonerates Bernard of the guilt she's been throwing at him. Bret still accuses him of being closed off, but Fiona said that was why she loved him. And now he'll have a permanent job at British Intelligence, a pension, and he and Fiona will get the kids back. Not too shabby for Bernard Samson.
I agree with some more critical readers who say Charity ends with too much of a whimper. It isn't that big a bother; Silas Gaunt and the DG are exposed, and at least Silas will be dealt with to some degree. I would've liked for the bomb hidden in the lock box to do some more damage; maybe they could've opened it in the conference room and it killed a few people. (How funny would it have been if Bernard randomly grabbed the person closest to him to save them from the blast, only to find out it was Dickey?) But I guess Bret needed to live for the ending to make sense. Still and all, a little more oomph would have been appreciated. And if -- that's right, I'm gonna harp on it one last time --- Thurkettle were still alive, he and Samson's fight could've been the climax.
Well, that about does her; wraps her all up. I'm exceedingly glad I read the Samson series, and did it in one shot (minus Winter, which I'll get to one day). Charity, while maybe not all it could've been, is a mostly satisfying wrap-up to the story, and makes the accomplishment (yeah, I know) of finishing it seem worthwhile.
After returning from an unexpectedly harrowing mission in East Berlin, Bernard Samson plunges headfirst into his investigation of his sister-in-law Tessa's murder, but finds opposition from everyone he asks for help. Meanwhile, his children are still in his in-laws' clutches and Fiona doesn't want to do anything about it. Gloria, the other woman he loves, is also still around, muddying the waters for him. Can Bernard find justice for an innocent woman and put his own life back together?
Spoilers...
Deighton manages to find compelling reasons why each of the novels in this series are titled as they are, and Charity is no exception. Throughout the book, Samson asks people for help, and each begrudgingly agrees, but only after advising him to rethink his course. Samson perceives their reluctant assistance as charity, but the real charity is their urging him to stop being so reckless. And, more often than not, it's the others who pay for his doggedness. The Swede says he'll help Samson kidnap his kids and escape England and Fiona's disgusting family, but he's murdered before he can get the plane ready. Werner is shot by Cindy Prettyman after Bernard reveals the existence of the lock box that British Intelligence -- and Werner, specifically -- steals. Jim Prettyman was dying anyway, but it seems Samson's badgering of him hastened his demise (not that I feel sorry for him). Ultimately, it's Bret Rensselaer who gives him the final, deciding act of charity by sharing with him Fiona's suicide note, letting him know that his wife is remorseful, knows she was in the wrong, and really does love him. Through the kindness of those he can barely bring himself to trust, Bernard Samson has hope of finally being happy.
The journey getting there is another great plot from Deighton. Samson is essentially investigating a mystery to which we already know the answer, but somehow Deighton manages to make it exciting nonetheless. When Samson brought Werner to the Autobahn to survey the site of Thurkettle's death, I found myself fully engrossed, waiting on baited breath for Samson to figure out what I already knew. Bringing the audience in on the secret before the protagonist runs the risk of making said hero look dim, but Deighton instead uses it to show off Bernard's keen mind; the crime has been so cleverly covered up that it looks next to impossible to be brought to light, and yet Bernie figures it out still, and we marvel at him. It still irks me that Thurkettle was killed before he and Samson could have the showdown Deighton set up (and, perversely, continued to tease even after the killer's demise), but the detective work was still plenty suspenseful.
I also liked the way Samson decides to deal with his family situation. Taking his children far away seems crazy, but what other avenue does he have? His wife doesn't want the kids anymore, his father-in-law is threatening to sue for custody (which he will certainly win), and he has no money and no one who wants to help him. Part of me hoped this would play out and Samson would escape with the kids and Gloria. Such wasn't the case, and Samson will end up staying with Fiona while Gloria marries Bret Rensselaer. I liked the resolution between Bernard and Bret, their sort of burying whatever hatchets were left (Spy Sinker revealed to us that Bret never really liked Bernard, and was even afraid of him, but I think he's being sincere when he says he respects him here). Fiona's letter was perfect, and necessary to get the readers' forgiveness; she cops to everything, admits this is all her fault, and finally exonerates Bernard of the guilt she's been throwing at him. Bret still accuses him of being closed off, but Fiona said that was why she loved him. And now he'll have a permanent job at British Intelligence, a pension, and he and Fiona will get the kids back. Not too shabby for Bernard Samson.
I agree with some more critical readers who say Charity ends with too much of a whimper. It isn't that big a bother; Silas Gaunt and the DG are exposed, and at least Silas will be dealt with to some degree. I would've liked for the bomb hidden in the lock box to do some more damage; maybe they could've opened it in the conference room and it killed a few people. (How funny would it have been if Bernard randomly grabbed the person closest to him to save them from the blast, only to find out it was Dickey?) But I guess Bret needed to live for the ending to make sense. Still and all, a little more oomph would have been appreciated. And if -- that's right, I'm gonna harp on it one last time --- Thurkettle were still alive, he and Samson's fight could've been the climax.
Well, that about does her; wraps her all up. I'm exceedingly glad I read the Samson series, and did it in one shot (minus Winter, which I'll get to one day). Charity, while maybe not all it could've been, is a mostly satisfying wrap-up to the story, and makes the accomplishment (yeah, I know) of finishing it seem worthwhile.
January 18, 2009
I really love Len Deighton, and I will miss Bernard and Werner, and even Dicky.... maybe.
October 18, 2019
The last volume in the Faith - Hope - Charity trilogy. Bernie Samson belongs up there with Harry Palmer and George Smiley. Great stuff.
March 7, 2018
A wonderful depiction both of covert operations and office politics, Charity is packed with action, incident and intrigue, bringing to a triumphant conclusion a series of ten novels that represents one of the great achievements of modern English fiction - głosi notka wydawcy Miłosierdzia, ostatniej powieści z Bernardem Samsonem.
Najpierw małe uściślenie: agent operacyjny brytyjskiego wywiadu, Bernard Samson, jest protagonistą dziewięciu książek, poprzedzonych, jak je nazywa autor, przez preludium, opisujące historię berlińskiej rodziny Winterów w latach 1900-1945, której losy splotły się z karierą wywiadowczą ojca Bernarda. Jest zatem Bernard kontynuatorem, na dobre i na złe, tradycji szpiegowskiej zainicjowanej przez ojca i, podobnie jak on, działa głównie w Berlinie, tyle że obecnie, w latach 1980-ych, w mieście, kraju i Europie podzielonych murem.
Mur u Deightona nie pada. Serial kończy się w 1988 roku, mimo że jego ostatnie tomy pisane były już za czasów zjednoczonych Niemiec. Jednak do snucia wiodącego szpiegowskiego wątku, przewijającego się przez wszystkie części cyklu, potrzebna była sceneria podzielonej Europy. Co więcej, brytyjscy szpiedzy do końca nie wierzą w jej zjednoczenie. Choć z punktu widzenia prawdy historycznej najważniejszy, nie jest to jedyny fakt kompromitujący kompetencje wywiadowcze bohaterów Lena Deightona. Wszystkie operacje, w których uczestniczy Bernard Samson, są co najmniej pośrednio powiązane z tą najważniejszą, wymyśloną bez jego udziału, której na dodatek nie tylko on stał się ofiarą. Ulokowanie jego żony Fiony po drugiej stronie muru, jej działanie jako podwójnego agenta, wyzwoliło lawinę wydarzeń, których planowanie i wykonanie obnaża kuchnię zimnowojennych poczynań SIS, czyli MI6.
Oczywiście Len Deighton nie za ów żałosny obraz wywiadu jest ceniony (jak wiadomo, sama rzeczywistość mocno Brytyjczyków skompromitowała), tylko za to JAK to zrobił. Nadając Bernardowi Samsonowi status pierwszoosobowego narratora, uczynił z niego, doświadczonego agenta operacyjnego, również bystrego obserwatora i inteligentnego analityka, bijącego na głowę swoich szefów, wywodzących się ze społecznej elity symbolizowanej przez Oxbridge. Jest przy tym Bernard, wbrew temu co sam o sobie sądzi, bardzo angielski w sposobie postrzegania i opisywania świata, z dystansem i lekko cynicznym humorem, ze starannym ważeniem słów, z pełną świadomością, że niedomówienia niekoniecznie zaciemniają obraz, często mogą służyć wydobyciu prawdy na jaw.
Tak, zgadzam się z opinią, że proza Lena Deightona plasuje go w czołówce dwudziestowiecznej literatury angielskiej. Dlatego wybaczam mu brak konsekwencji w opisie niektórych epizodów intrygi szpiegowskiej, a nawet melodramatyczne akcenty w końcówce Miłosierdzia.
Najpierw małe uściślenie: agent operacyjny brytyjskiego wywiadu, Bernard Samson, jest protagonistą dziewięciu książek, poprzedzonych, jak je nazywa autor, przez preludium, opisujące historię berlińskiej rodziny Winterów w latach 1900-1945, której losy splotły się z karierą wywiadowczą ojca Bernarda. Jest zatem Bernard kontynuatorem, na dobre i na złe, tradycji szpiegowskiej zainicjowanej przez ojca i, podobnie jak on, działa głównie w Berlinie, tyle że obecnie, w latach 1980-ych, w mieście, kraju i Europie podzielonych murem.
Mur u Deightona nie pada. Serial kończy się w 1988 roku, mimo że jego ostatnie tomy pisane były już za czasów zjednoczonych Niemiec. Jednak do snucia wiodącego szpiegowskiego wątku, przewijającego się przez wszystkie części cyklu, potrzebna była sceneria podzielonej Europy. Co więcej, brytyjscy szpiedzy do końca nie wierzą w jej zjednoczenie. Choć z punktu widzenia prawdy historycznej najważniejszy, nie jest to jedyny fakt kompromitujący kompetencje wywiadowcze bohaterów Lena Deightona. Wszystkie operacje, w których uczestniczy Bernard Samson, są co najmniej pośrednio powiązane z tą najważniejszą, wymyśloną bez jego udziału, której na dodatek nie tylko on stał się ofiarą. Ulokowanie jego żony Fiony po drugiej stronie muru, jej działanie jako podwójnego agenta, wyzwoliło lawinę wydarzeń, których planowanie i wykonanie obnaża kuchnię zimnowojennych poczynań SIS, czyli MI6.
Oczywiście Len Deighton nie za ów żałosny obraz wywiadu jest ceniony (jak wiadomo, sama rzeczywistość mocno Brytyjczyków skompromitowała), tylko za to JAK to zrobił. Nadając Bernardowi Samsonowi status pierwszoosobowego narratora, uczynił z niego, doświadczonego agenta operacyjnego, również bystrego obserwatora i inteligentnego analityka, bijącego na głowę swoich szefów, wywodzących się ze społecznej elity symbolizowanej przez Oxbridge. Jest przy tym Bernard, wbrew temu co sam o sobie sądzi, bardzo angielski w sposobie postrzegania i opisywania świata, z dystansem i lekko cynicznym humorem, ze starannym ważeniem słów, z pełną świadomością, że niedomówienia niekoniecznie zaciemniają obraz, często mogą służyć wydobyciu prawdy na jaw.
Tak, zgadzam się z opinią, że proza Lena Deightona plasuje go w czołówce dwudziestowiecznej literatury angielskiej. Dlatego wybaczam mu brak konsekwencji w opisie niektórych epizodów intrygi szpiegowskiej, a nawet melodramatyczne akcenty w końcówce Miłosierdzia.
April 12, 2022
The entire Bernard Samson series has been thoroughly absorbing and goes straight to the reread shelf even though I find the essential plot carried by Fiona heavy-handed and most of the players to be caricatures. I also do not see how these books could be read as standalone novels, as the author apparently intended, although you could feasibly stop after the first trilogy.
The women characters in particular grate on me, however, in the final author notes Deighton explains how Fiona and Gloria are filtered from studied aspects of his own wife. This suggests to me that you can’t successfully make two whole and rounded characters out of one real and integrated person. What you can do, and Deighton does with excellence, however is create a significant non-speaking player whose presence is the life blood of the narrative and possibly the first and only true love for Bernard/Bernie/Bernt/Bern-ard; the city of Berlin.
Apart from being a ripping spycraft yarn, the series is a beautiful ode to the resilience of Berlin, which offers up the deep trauma of its rending into two like a woman silently showing the deep tissue scarring of childbirth. Bernard is completely enamoured and carries her favour with chivalric, unwavering faith throughout and is the only love story among the cast that I can believe in.
The women characters in particular grate on me, however, in the final author notes Deighton explains how Fiona and Gloria are filtered from studied aspects of his own wife. This suggests to me that you can’t successfully make two whole and rounded characters out of one real and integrated person. What you can do, and Deighton does with excellence, however is create a significant non-speaking player whose presence is the life blood of the narrative and possibly the first and only true love for Bernard/Bernie/Bernt/Bern-ard; the city of Berlin.
Apart from being a ripping spycraft yarn, the series is a beautiful ode to the resilience of Berlin, which offers up the deep trauma of its rending into two like a woman silently showing the deep tissue scarring of childbirth. Bernard is completely enamoured and carries her favour with chivalric, unwavering faith throughout and is the only love story among the cast that I can believe in.
May 22, 2019
So! I have finished the ten-book Samson series (3 trilogies and a prequel). I am so glad that I took the time to read the entire set. I had moments of misgivings but hour upon hour of page-turning suspense and reader's delight.
I can't think of another writer who comes so close to what I think of as the apex of espionage fiction: John Le Carre's Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy and Smiley's People. If I had to choose the very best I'd probably go with Le Carre, but Deighton's series on Bernard Samson is a very close second, and that is high praise from me.
Charity ends the series brilliantly - secrets unfold, shocking at times, there is plenty of action, but it is also one of the most contemplative books in the series. And while I was surprised that Fiona (Samson's wife and star of MI-6) never appears in this volume, her voice is heard/read at the very end, in one of the most moving sections in all of the many books that make up this series. To say more would be telling, so I'll leave you there - in suspense! And highly recommend that you dive into all ten of these extremely accomplished books.
I can't think of another writer who comes so close to what I think of as the apex of espionage fiction: John Le Carre's Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy and Smiley's People. If I had to choose the very best I'd probably go with Le Carre, but Deighton's series on Bernard Samson is a very close second, and that is high praise from me.
Charity ends the series brilliantly - secrets unfold, shocking at times, there is plenty of action, but it is also one of the most contemplative books in the series. And while I was surprised that Fiona (Samson's wife and star of MI-6) never appears in this volume, her voice is heard/read at the very end, in one of the most moving sections in all of the many books that make up this series. To say more would be telling, so I'll leave you there - in suspense! And highly recommend that you dive into all ten of these extremely accomplished books.
May 30, 2022
The disappointment that I felt in “Hope” is more than recompensed by the clarity and fulfilment of “Charity”. Deighton’s plotting, character development and mood comes to a believable and satisfying conclusion. I am in awe about how the multiple perspectives are woven together, and year still retained, in the final trilogy - and particularly in this the final book. The switch in viewpoint that we saw in “Spy Line” has been used to wonderful effect, leaving everyone, including the reader, not fully aware, but aware enough to form their own picture - one which even after the book’s finish, they will continue to probe and reflect on.
10 books have been a big investment. Only one disappointed. Two, perhaps three, were as good as I could possibly expect. 10 books - time well spent. It is easy to see how Deighton gave years of his life to this project. I for one am grateful that he did. I feel more strongly about him as his characters. He strikes me as a great man. I hope he is well enough to reflect on his achievement with pleasure.
10 books have been a big investment. Only one disappointed. Two, perhaps three, were as good as I could possibly expect. 10 books - time well spent. It is easy to see how Deighton gave years of his life to this project. I for one am grateful that he did. I feel more strongly about him as his characters. He strikes me as a great man. I hope he is well enough to reflect on his achievement with pleasure.
July 24, 2024
Bernard is at his wit's end. He's living with Fiona but the relationship is distant. His children have been 'kidnapped' by his rich and disfunctional father-in-law and sent to boarding schools. And he hankers after Gloria. He escapes by getting posted to Berlin as the deputy to Frank, head of the berlin Station. There, he digs further into the events of Fiona's escape to the east, determined to find out who was behind the death of Tessa. Of course, this alarms one or two people in the top floor of the SIS. Nevertheless, he largely pieces it together, even working out what was in the mysterious box currently sitting in an old friend's office in Brussels.
It is a fitting end to the Samson saga, many of the loose ends are tied up and we find out what's in store for Bernard and Fiona's futures.
It is a fitting end to the Samson saga, many of the loose ends are tied up and we find out what's in store for Bernard and Fiona's futures.
September 9, 2024
This is the final novel and the one where the overarching plot threatens to resolve itself, but like our hero Bernard, remains slightly out of focus.
This is apparently as a result of Bernard being an 'unreliable' narrator.
I can't really accept Deighton's assertion that the whole series is in part comedy. I think it's a serious work which he doesn't quite pull off. The setting up and killing of Tessa Kosinski by Silas Gaunt to fool the Russian's into thinking Fiona is dead becomes the main storyline and Bernard is the only one who seems to put all the pieces together. And yet we never really learn what he thinks about Werner's role in the killing of Thurkettle, does he appreciate the role of Gloria's father etc etc. lots of loose ends.
It's a great series, maybe better in its first two thirds.
This is apparently as a result of Bernard being an 'unreliable' narrator.
I can't really accept Deighton's assertion that the whole series is in part comedy. I think it's a serious work which he doesn't quite pull off. The setting up and killing of Tessa Kosinski by Silas Gaunt to fool the Russian's into thinking Fiona is dead becomes the main storyline and Bernard is the only one who seems to put all the pieces together. And yet we never really learn what he thinks about Werner's role in the killing of Thurkettle, does he appreciate the role of Gloria's father etc etc. lots of loose ends.
It's a great series, maybe better in its first two thirds.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 23, 2022
As is usually the case with Len Deighton’s books, “Charity” is a pretty good story, well written, kind of slow—but, nonetheless, well written. While “Charity” stands on its own, it is certainly a much better story if one has read the previous eight books of the Bernard Sampson series leading up to it. As I got near the end of “Charity”, I was a little afraid that the ending might turn out to be a bit disappointing but Deighton wrapped it all up very nicely, not just this, the final story on the Sampson series, but the entire series itself. I can’t really recommend very strongly any of the Sampson books on its own but I do recommend the the entire nine book series (three sets of three) as a whole. Not a lot of action but very well written and an excellent example of the genre.
May 18, 2022
Bernard is getting desperate to have his children home and he hatches a plan. Unfortunately, the scheme begins to unravel when a man he hires to help him is found murdered. Meanwhile an old SIS colleague resurfaces who may have ties to the dead man and to the death of Bernard's sister-in-law. The adventure continues as Samson tries to solve the puzzle and find the missing pieces to events that have plagued him for 3 years. Deighton is at his best and readers should tackle the other 8 books before this one to get the best from the series. Spoiler alert: The only thing that would have made this 9th novel better is if Samson had ended up with the other woman. I never felt that Fiona or her family were the right for Bernard or the children: there was too much damage, baggage and secrets.
September 1, 2023
The Bernard Samson series: 9 novels, 3 trilogies, possibly the single greatest spy saga ever written. It's been about 6 years since I started with Berlin Game. I've not rushed through the series and I can't remember all the details, but I've certainly enjoyed the journey. I know I will revisit these books in future and I'm already quite excited to revisit the original trilogy (I've also reread Berlin Hame once already but will be totally happy for a third go). Charity was a strong ending to the series, wraps things up in a satisfying but still fairly open ended way. If Deighton had wanted to, I'm sure he could have spun further Samson yarns. It's a tantalizing thought, but I'm in no way dissatisfied with the Samson ennealogy that the great man wrote for us.
February 15, 2018
This is the 9th Barnard Samson book I’ve read, so clearly I enjoyed the characters that populated these stories and was interested in the kinds of intrigue in which they got entangled. Although these are advertised as standalone books, the reader would lose a lot if the books were not read in order (since the past stories propelled the characters to their current situations). This book tied up most of the loose ends from the other books. As this book was the last in the Barnard Samson series, I will now have to go through a withdrawal process -- and I think that’s the only problem I have with this book.
June 26, 2020
It has been awhile since I read the first two books in this series. However the major characters all return in this last book and I was able to catch up quickly.
The major quest for Bernard Samson is finding out who is responsible for the murder of his sister in law and why it happened. This question is answered in this final book. But much of the content of these books deals with the day to day politics inside the Secret Service. While there are several tense and exciting moments , there is also a fair amount of comedy in Samson's first person descriptions of personalities, plans and politics. An enjoyable read.
The major quest for Bernard Samson is finding out who is responsible for the murder of his sister in law and why it happened. This question is answered in this final book. But much of the content of these books deals with the day to day politics inside the Secret Service. While there are several tense and exciting moments , there is also a fair amount of comedy in Samson's first person descriptions of personalities, plans and politics. An enjoyable read.
June 9, 2017
A rare FIVE. Len Deighton's Bernard Samon series, IMHO, is as good, if not better than Le Carre's Smiley series. Actually, as I find Le Carre's writing style burdensome, I favor Deighton. From Mexico Set, to Hook, Line, & Sinker, to Faith, Hope, & Charity, we find a wonderful series that begs to be reread years from now, if I'm so lucky. The stories are a mix of spying and intrigue, smothered in excellent writing and story telling. One is lucky to have read Deighton, if only I could find more like him.
October 21, 2017
This was the finale to a brilliant series. It features the denoument of a terrifying ordeal; the remarkable journey of Fiona Samson (a hero) and Bernie Samson (hero above and beyond). This is surely the best spy series; there is nothing to touch it. This book is every bit as good as any in the series and ends with an (almost) bang and one of Fiona's remarkable narratives. Read the whole series; there is no downside; this remains one of the unsung literary accomplishments of spy lit. Very much recommended.
December 28, 2017
I honestly felt little could topple le Carre, or 'The Spy who came in from the Cold' or the Smiley series from my favourite list of spy fiction; but this 9-book long humdinger was as awesome as they came. A bittersweet ending was perfectly in place with Bernie's world, as even though most of us would have wanted him to end up with Gloria, this was probably a more realistic ending. Special mention to the fact that Bernie never finds out about Werner killing Thurkettle -- loved that Deighton ended things on the terms he did.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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