Dirty Story (Ambler novel)
Author | Eric Ambler |
---|---|
Country | United Kingdom |
Language | English |
Publisher | The Bodley Head |
Publication date | 1967 |
Media type | |
OCLC | 1264477400 |
Preceded by | A Kind of Anger |
Followed by | The Intercom Conspiracy |
Dirty Story: A Further Account of the Life and Adventures of Arthur Abdel Simpson is a 1967 novel by Eric Ambler. It was also published as This Gun for Hire.[1]
The book continues the life of Ambler's anti-hero, petty criminal Arthur Abdel Simpson, a man whose English father and Egyptian mother have given him uncertain citizenship. Simpson took part in a daring Istanbul robbery in Ambler's earlier novel The Light of Day.
In Dirty Story Simpson faces the prospect of becoming a penniless exile, a non-citizen of any country. He is forced to become a mercenary for a cynical Central African mining company seeking to secure control of land rich in rare earth ores. He is a misfit with little military experience and is unsuited for the role of mercenary; however, he manages to outwit his ruthless adversaries who are seasoned professionals.
This is one of several novels by Ambler in which statelessness or the danger of becoming stateless (an exile, not a citizen of any country and unwelcome in all countries) features prominently in the plot.[2][3]
It was nominated for the 1967 Gold Dagger award.
References[]
- ^ https://ericamblerbooks.com/bibliography/
- ^ Lassner, Phyllis (2016). Espionage and exile : fascism and anti-fascism in British spy fiction and film. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press. ISBN 9781474401104.
- ^ Noble, Michael (15 October 2018). "Our Man in Europe: Eric Ambler and the 1930s". The History Foundry. Retrieved 21 December 2021.
- English thriller novels
- Novels by Eric Ambler
- 1967 British novels
- The Bodley Head books
- 1960s thriller novel stubs