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Anthony PriceEnglish writer of spy thrillers
Date of Birth: 16.08.1938
Country:  Great Britain |
Content:
- Anthony Price: Master of Espionage Fiction
- Academic and Journalistic Career
- The David Audley/Colonel Jack Butler Series
- David Audley: The Unconventional Agent
- Rivalries and Subversion
- Realism and Historical Context
- Novelistic Evolution and Filmic Adaptation
Anthony Price: Master of Espionage Fiction
Early Life and Military ServiceAnthony Price, renowned English writer of spy thrillers, was born on August 15, 1928. He attended The King's School in Canterbury and served in the British Army from 1947 to 1949, rising to the rank of captain.
Academic and Journalistic Career
After his military service, Price pursued his education at Merton College, Oxford, graduating in 1952 with a Master's degree. He worked as a journalist for Westminster Press from 1952 to 1988, eventually becoming the editor of the Oxford Times from 1972 to 1988.
The David Audley/Colonel Jack Butler Series
Price's literary legacy lies in his nineteen novels featuring Doctor David Audley and Colonel Jack Butler. These works revolve around a group of agents employed by an organization that resembles MI5, referred to by its members as the "Department of Defence." The fictional department is headed by Sir Frederick Clinton and later by Colonel Jack Butler.
David Audley: The Unconventional Agent
David Audley, the series' primary protagonist, is a historian-turned-secret agent. He is known for his unorthodox tactics and his penchant for quoting Kipling, particularly the novel "Stalky & Co." While Audley appears in every novel, he is not always the central character.
Rivalries and Subversion
Like John le Carré's Smiley team, Price's department is plagued by rivalries and ill will. Price's narrative technique goes a step further, offering perspectives from Audley's detractors, allowing readers to view events through their eyes.
Realism and Historical Context
The fictional intelligence service portrayed by Price closely mirrors its real-world counterpart, with female agents such as Frances Fitzgibbon and Elizabeth Lofthouse. The series also features a Russian antagonist, Professor Panin, who repeatedly plots against Audley and the "Debrecen List," a roster of individuals suspected of training at a spy school in Hungary.
Novelistic Evolution and Filmic Adaptation
Price's novels unfold in "real time," with characters aging and evolving with each installment. The time span between the first and last novels encompasses approximately twenty years. Some novels delve into Audley and Butler's experiences during World War II, connecting their fictional exploits to significant historical events.
In 1983, the six-part television series "Chessgame" was released, featuring actor Terence Stamp as David Audley. The series was later re-edited into a three-part version in 1986.
