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Desmond Bagley - Discover more about the life and work of the craftsmanlike thriller novelist Desmond Bagley. His novels, book cover art, a bibliography of articles and interviews and his thoughts on writing action fiction.

The Bagley Brief

A Desmond Bagley Online Archive

  • Home
  • Feature articles
  • About Bagley
    • The boy who was different 1923 – 1937
    • Employment, wanderlust and adventure in the Sahara 1937 – 1947
    • South Africa, journalism and short stories 1947 – 1962
    • Joan Brown and Bagley’s career as a novelist
    • Joan Bagley and posthumous publication
    • Joan Magaret Bagley
  • Writer
    • Writer – An Enquiry into a Novelist
    • The novels
      • The Golden Keel
      • High Citadel
      • Wyatt’s Hurricane
      • Landslide
      • The Vivero Letter
      • The Spoilers
      • Running Blind
      • The Freedom Trap
      • The Tightrope Men
      • The Snow Tiger
      • The Enemy
      • Flyaway
      • Bahama Crisis
      • Windfall
      • Night of Error
      • Juggernaut
      • Domino Island
    • Articles and Interviews
    • Bagley on writing action fiction
  • Running Blind archive
    • Bagley in Iceland
      • Media articles
    • Bagley and film options
      • Media articles
    • The tv adaptation
      • Filming locations
      • Filming articles
      • Aircraft
      • Props
      • Vessels
      • Cast and crew credits
      • Articles and reviews
      • Radio Times articles
      • UK tv listings
      • Icelandic transmission articles
      • Australian transmission articles
      • American promo advert
      • Transmission formats
      • The video
    • The novel
      • Literary reviews
      • Editions
      • Cover art gallery
      • Norman Weaver – artist
      • Audio books
      • Locations
    • Miscellany
      • Jack Gerson – author and scriptwriter
      • Factfile
  • Gallery
    • UK first edition cover art
    • HarperCollins 2017 re-issues
    • Japanese cover art
    • Polish cover art
    • Running Blind cover art
    • The Mackintosh Man cinema lobby card gallery
  • About
  • Contact

Author: The Bagley Brief

The Bagley Brief is an archive resource written and maintained by researcher Philip Eastwood. The site also contains the 'Running Blind' archive, the definitive on-line resource for Desmond Bagley's Cold War thriller set in Iceland.

Writer – An Enquiry into a Novelist

on February 26, 2021February 16, 2026 By The Bagley Brief
Desmond Bagley - Writer - An Enquiry into a Novelist. The unpublished autobiography of Desmond Bagley - master of the adventure novel. Edited by Philip Eastwood with foreword by Mike Ripley.

Explore the unpublished autobiographical work of Desmond Bagley. Writer – An Enquiry into a Novelist reveals his early life, influences, and path to becoming a bestselling author. Edited and annotated by Philip Eastwood with foreword by Mike Ripley.

Project American – DECLASSIFIED

on June 25, 2020February 16, 2026 By The Bagley Brief

Read Project American – DECLASSIFIED, an early science-fiction tale by Desmond Bagley reproduced in full — a rare speculative story first published in The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction.

The Le Vasseur connection

on July 20, 2019February 16, 2026 By The Bagley Brief
Desmond Bagley's portrait 'Moon Fantasy' by Guernsey based artist Peter Le Vasseur © 1980 Peter Le Vasseur.

Discover the friendship between Desmond Bagley and artist Peter Le Vasseur, including the story of the Moon Fantasy portrait and its artistic significance.

‘En garde’ – The Bagleys and the Sarnia Sword Club

on April 26, 2019February 16, 2026 By The Bagley Brief
Desmond and Joan Bagley and the Sarnia Sword Club © Guernsey Press 17th April 2019. Image © Graham Jackson.

Learn about Desmond and Joan Bagley’s connection to the Sarnia Sword Club in Guernsey, the sport’s role in their lives, and the club’s 50-year legacy.

Bagley book jacket briefing

on March 1, 2019February 16, 2026 By The Bagley Brief
Domino Island by Desmond Bagley Review Copy dustjacket © HarperCollins Publishers.

Uncover the design and artistry of Desmond Bagley’s iconic book covers. Learn about the visual storytelling and graphic design behind his novels.

Oliver Elmes – A life in art and design

on February 2, 2019February 17, 2026 By The Bagley Brief
Oliver Elmes - Artist and Graphic Designer book jacket illustrations © John Long [Simon & Schuster, Inc.]; © Hutchinson [Penguin Random House]; © Anthony Blond Ltd. [Penguin Random House]; © Jarrold Publishing.

Explore the work of Oliver Elmes, the artist and graphic designer behind a Desmond Bagley book jacket, and his influence on iconic thriller cover design.

Bagley and the ‘Overload’ affair

on January 12, 2019February 16, 2026 By The Bagley Brief
Overload by Charles Kearey and Carel Birkby - © HarperCollins Publishers 1970.

An in-depth look at Desmond Bagley’s connection to the novel Overload and a little-known episode from his early career and publishing history.

The Spoilers – Characters from the pages of history

on December 18, 2018February 15, 2026 By The Bagley Brief
Desmond Bagley - The Spoilers character names from Northcott Theatre Exeter Programme 1968 © & Courtesy of the Howard Gotlieb Archival Research Center, Boston University. Original programme © Northcott Theatre.

Explore the real historical figures who inspired characters in Desmond Bagley’s thriller The Spoilers, revealing how history shaped one of his most authentic novels.

Bagley’s Iceland by road, air and sea

on December 3, 2018February 16, 2026 By The Bagley Brief
Desmond Bagley's Running Blind route map © HarperCollins Publishers.

Discover how Desmond Bagley explored Iceland by road, air, and sea, and how his research travels informed the realism and settings of his novel Running Blind.

Running Blind – The genesis of Alan Stewart

on November 13, 2018February 15, 2026 By The Bagley Brief
Desmond Bagley - Running Blind - Alan Stewart - Joensuu Finland © Wikimedia Creative Commons.

Explore how Desmond Bagley created Alan Stewart, the central character of Running Blind, revealing the influences, research, and realism behind the novel.

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AVAILABLE NOW!

The unpublished memoirs of Desmond Bagley, master of the adventure novel. A rare glimpse into the early life and formative influences of the best-selling novelist. Edited by Philip Eastwood with a foreword by Mike Ripley. FREE download available now!

Feature Articles: The Bagley Brief

Writer – An Enquiry into a Novelist

Writer – An Enquiry into a Novelist

Explore the unpublished autobiographical work of Desmond Bagley. Writer – An Enquiry into a Novelist reveals his early life, influences, and path to becoming a bestselling author. Edited and annotated by Philip Eastwood with foreword by Mike Ripley.

Project American – DECLASSIFIED

Project American – DECLASSIFIED

Read Project American – DECLASSIFIED, an early science-fiction tale by Desmond Bagley reproduced in full — a rare speculative story first published in The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction.

The Le Vasseur connection

The Le Vasseur connection

Discover the friendship between Desmond Bagley and artist Peter Le Vasseur, including the story of the Moon Fantasy portrait and its artistic significance.

The Bagleys’ Blue Plaque

Desmond and Joan Bagley - Blue Plaque Guernsey © The Bagley Brief.

The Desmond Bagley Collection at the Priaulx Library

The Desmond Bagley Collection at the Priaulx Library, Candie House, Candie Gardens, St. Peter Port, Guernsey. © The Bagley Brief.

The Desmond Bagley Suite at the Albany Apartments

Desmond Bagley Website

Visit Nigel Alefounder's main website & archive

Listen to the Desmond Bagley Podcast

Listen to Nigel Alefounder's series of podcasts about the life and career of Desmond Bagley.
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