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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
    • The novel
      • Literary reviews
      • Editions
      • Cover art gallery
      • Norman Weaver – artist
      • Audio books
      • Locations
    • 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
    • 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
    • Citations & Links
      • Acknowledgements
  • 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.

Bagley, Strängnäs, Iwan Morelius, and the Husqvarna M/40 pistol

on May 7, 2018October 22, 2026 By The Bagley Brief
Desmond Bagley and the Husqvarna M/40 9x19mm parabellum pistol © Gothia Arms Historical Society, Gothenburg, Sweden.

An in-depth look at Desmond Bagley’s research into Strängnäs, Iwan Morelius, and the Husqvarna M/40 pistol, revealing his commitment to technical realism.

A little peace of Britain

on March 15, 2018October 22, 2026 By The Bagley Brief
Desmond Bagley - 'A little peace of Britain' published February 1980 'In Britain' magazine. Courtesy & © The Chelsea Magazine Company Ltd.

A reflective look at Guernsey through the lens of Desmond Bagley, exploring place, identity, and how landscape and culture shaped his outlook and writing.

Desmond Bagley at the Guille-Allès Library

on February 1, 2018October 22, 2026 By The Bagley Brief
Desmond Bagley talk and exhibition at the Guille-Allès Library as part of the Guernsey Literary Festival 2018 © Graham Jackson, © Guernsey Literary Festival, © Guille-Allès.

A look at Desmond Bagley’s connection to the Guille-Allès Library in Guernsey, highlighting archives, literary heritage, and his lasting local legacy.

The Bagley Legacy

on December 7, 2017October 22, 2026 By The Bagley Brief
Desmond Bagley at the Guernsey Literary Festival 2018 © Graham Jackson & © Guernsey Literary Festival.

An exploration of Desmond Bagley’s literary legacy, examining his influence on thriller fiction, realism, and why his novels continue to endure.

The full complement of Desmond Bagley reissues is now available

on August 10, 2017October 22, 2026 By The Bagley Brief
Desmond Bagley - HarperCollins 2017 Crime Club Imprint re-issue cover art collage © HarperCollins Publishers Ltd.

All of Desmond Bagley’s classic thrillers are now available in reissued editions, bringing his full body of work back into print for new readers.

Speaking of Desmond Bagley: An Interview with author Caro Ramsay

on July 13, 2017March 15, 2026 By The Bagley Brief
Speaking of Desmond Bagley: The Bagley Brief interviews author Caro Ramsay. Images © Caro Ramsay; © Bengt-Ove Tideman.

Author Caro Ramsay discusses Desmond Bagley’s influence, writing legacy, and enduring appeal in this in-depth interview for The Bagley Brief.

Landslide book bonus in Argosy Magazine – 1968

on June 26, 2017October 22, 2026 By The Bagley Brief
Argosy Men's Magazine - April 1968 © 1968, 2017 Steeger Properties, LLC. All rights reserved.

A look at Desmond Bagley’s novel Landslide as a book bonus in Argosy Magazine in 1968, highlighting a moment in his publishing history.

Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang, Bagley & The Brotherhood

on May 20, 2017October 22, 2026 By The Bagley Brief
Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang - Mike Ripley. Cover illustration from 'When Eight Bells Toll' © HarperCollins Publishers 1981 and The Brotherhood by Alan Williams © Endeavour Press.

A closer look at Desmond Bagley’s place in thriller fiction through Mike Ripley's Kiss Kiss Bang Bang. Also, other novels from this period that are set in Iceland.

The Chill Factor

on April 28, 2017October 22, 2026 By The Bagley Brief
The Chill Factor - Richard Falkirk © Penguin Random House Company.

An in-depth look at The Chill Factor by Derek Lambert, writing as Richard Falkirk, exploring its themes, Cold War tension, and place among Icelandic thriller novels.

The Running Blind Archive

on April 26, 2017October 22, 2026 By The Bagley Brief
Desmond Bagley's Running Blind - Visit the archive on The Bagley Brief.

Discover rare archival material from Desmond Bagley’s Running Blind, including manuscript drafts, research notes, and behind-the-scenes insights.

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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

The Wild Man: Bagley’s first attempt at espionage fiction

The Wild Man: Bagley’s first attempt at espionage fiction

In November 1966 Bagley began exploring the possibility of writing an espionage novel. His synopsis for a new novel, titled The Wild Man, was delivered to his publishers on 24 August 1967. Set in Saqih, a fictional province of Borneo, it posed a compelling question: How can an elected government control its professional bureaucracy, especially those parts that normally operate in a clandestine manner?

Running Blind: The Hemisphere screenplay and the enigmatic Sol Reybvinnar

Running Blind: The Hemisphere screenplay and the enigmatic Sol Reybvinnar

Discover more about the only screenplay for Running Blind filed with Bagley’s papers, Hemisphere Productions that produced it and the enigmatic Sol Reybvinnar who wrote it.

Caravan to Vaccarès: Nemesis of a Running Blind movie adaptation

Caravan to Vaccarès: Nemesis of a Running Blind movie adaptation

Discover the history of film producers Geoffrey Reeve and Richard Morris-Adams’ ill-fated 1973 production of Desmond Bagley’s novel Running Blind, and its connection with Alistair MacLean’s Caravan to Vaccarès.

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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