Len Deighton (born 18 February 1929) is an English author known for his novels, works of military history, screenplays and cookery writing.
He has had a varied career, including as a pastry cook, waiter, co-editor of a magazine, teacher and air steward before writing his first novel in 1962: The IPCRESS File.
[1][2] He continued to produce what his biographer John Reilly considers "stylish, witty, well-crafted novels" in spy fiction,[3] including three trilogies and a prequel featuring Bernard Samson.
His long-held interest in cooking—his mother had been a professional chef and instilled a love for cuisine in her son—led to an illustrated cookery column in the Sunday newspaper, The Observer, for two years.
[15] In 1988 Granada Television produced the miniseries Game, Set and Match based on his trilogy of the same name.