Harry Palmer Files — 003 — The Truth About Len Deighton
Through July, or at least until I run out of things about which to talk, we’ll be looking at the Harry Palmer series of novels (in which the character doesn’t actually have a name), their author — Len Deighton, the films based on them, the star of those films — Michael Caine, and the television movies that followed. I will be re-reading the whole series of novels, re-watching the films, and giving my thoughts on all I encounter. I’ll inevitably be drawing heavily on the collection of Kees Stam, author of The Harry Palmer Movie Site, and Rob Mallows, creator of the Deighton Dossier, and other odds and ends that I’ve turned up over the years.
Roland Barthes famously wrote of the death of the author in his 1967 essay of the same name, espousing that, “We know now that a text is not a line of words releasing a single ‘theological’ meaning (the ‘message’ of the Author-God) but a multi-dimensional space in which a variety of writings, none of them original, blend and clash. The text is a tissue of quotations drawn from the innumerable centres of culture.” Barthes felt that critical analysis of texts must come from texts themselves, and not from guessing at the author’s biographical background or intentions.
A worthy thought from a powerful essay, one that has influenced literary criticism since it’s publication three decades ago. And yet, perhaps in keeping with a culture that seeks to make celebrities of anyone, we still turn to our authors for the final word, rip apart their lives for clues to unravel their works, and revel in their dirty laundry as much, if not more so, than that of their characters.
Inevitably, we still turn to our authors for answers. And so, it’s hardly worth resisting the urge to share this recent BBC biographical documentary of Len Deighton, The Truth About Len Deighton, with Sir Michael Caine, Sir Max Hastings, journalist Peter Evans, advertiser / writer John Salmon, and others. It’s a quality piece of work, and even includes a bit where Deighton teaches the viewer to make a proper omelet (we’ll probably be coming back to this one later in the series).
Thanks to Toni B. at the Yahoo! Len Deighton Discussion Group for uploading this!
Note: As you click to play, this video will open a pop-up ad in a new window. I’m sorry for this, but it’s worth the second’s worth of annoyance to see this wonderful documentary!
