Take a few moments to browse The Bagley Brief’s Running Blind archive, there is much to discover about Desmond Bagley’s seventh published novel, a Cold War espionage thriller set in Iceland. There is much to discover, whether you have a love of Desmond Bagley, Running Blind, Iceland or all three. With well researched and informative articles the site can also act as a travelogue for those people wishing to visit Iceland.
Running Blind, published in 1970, is a first person narrative espionage thriller set in Iceland. The protagonist Alan Stewart, an ex MI-6 agent is coerced into delivering a package to Iceland. Pursued across Iceland by the KGB, the CIA and British Intelligence Stewart’s mission becomes a fight for survival.
Running Blind was Bagley’s first espionage novel and the first of his published novels to be researched on location, the consequence of which is a story displaying a detailed authenticity of background. The spectacular landscape of this island in the middle of the North Atlantic, a land of light and darkness, has been captured and utilised by Bagley to great effect. This novel bears the Bagley hallmarks of skilful narrative and detailed research.
Start your journey through the archive here or select your preference from one of the topics below by clicking the title or the image.
Desmond Bagley in Iceland
Read more about the Bagley’s research trip to Iceland in 1969 and browse newspaper articles describing their visit.
The novel
Discover more about Bagley’s espionage thriller including literary locations, worldwide imprints and browse a gallery of cover art.
The failed film production
There was nearly a movie adaptation of Running Blind, explore the background to this failed film adaptation and browse newspaper articles to discover the reasons why the project never made it past pre-production.
The television adaptation
Discover the history of the television adaptation through contemporary media articles and follow the adaptation from its conception, through filming, broadcast, reviews and video release.
Filming locations
Explore the locations used during the filming of the television adaptation in 1978. Compare ‘then and now’ images and read a short history of each location.
Media articles
Browse newspaper articles reporting on the filming of Running Blind from 1978 to 1980.
Media articles
Browse newspaper articles reporting on the transmission of Running Blind from 1978 to 1980.
Miscellany and Factfile
‘Whoever planned this has a mind like a pretzel, but it’s all of a piece‘ – A collection of miscellaneous articles and facts with links to Running Blind.
Notes
1. Desmond & Joan Bagley in Reykjavík, Iceland August 1969 – Image © Tíminn
2. Images © HarperCollins Publishers Ltd.
3. Tíminn (1973). ‘Út í Óvissuna og Desmond Bagley’ (15th April 1973 pp. 13).
4. Radio Times Issue 2876/7 © Radio Times.
5. Images © BBC Scotland & The Bagley Brief
6. The BBC in Iceland – Images © DV ehf.
7. Transmission articles – Images © DV ehf., © mbl.is / Árvakur hf.
8. Image © HarperCollins Publishers Ltd / One Plus One Studio / Steven Stroud.
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