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Eric Ambler
- A BBC Radio Collection
- Narrated by: Edward Hogg, Clare Corbett, Daniel Rigby, Simon Scardifield, Raad Rawi, full cast
- Length: 6 hrs and 35 mins
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Eric Ambler
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Summary
BBC Radio 4 dramatisations of three of Eric Ambler’s bestselling spy thrillers, plus Nick Perry’s play The Battle of San Pietro and a bonus documentary, Ambler at 80
Eric Ambler has been hailed as ‘the father of the modern spy story’. His tense, gritty thrillers introduced a new realism to the classic espionage mystery, and influenced novelists from Graham Greene to John le Carré. This collection brings together three of his best-known novels, adapted for radio with a full cast.
Epitaph for a Spy
When Hungarian language teacher Josef Vadassy goes to collect his photographs from the chemist, he is arrested on suspicion of espionage. The roll of film contained pictures of military installations – but Vadassy knows he didn’t take them. Can he find the real spy and prove his innocence?
Journey into Fear
Istanbul, 1940. Amiable engineer and munitions expert Alec Graham has just concluded high-level arms talks with the Turkish government when someone tries to kill him. Escaping by steamer, he realises that his would-be assassin is also on board…
The Levanter
Michael Howell has kept his family's firm from nationalisation by co-operating with the new Syrian regime. But other political forces are at work in the Middle East – and Howell soon finds himself caught up in a deadly plot. This gripping tale of intrigue and double-dealing won the Crime Writers’ Association Gold Dagger Award.
Among the casts of these fast-paced adaptations are Edward Hogg, Daniel Rigby and Raad Rawi. Also included in this collection are The Battle of San Pietro by Nick Perry, a 45-minute play exploring Eric Ambler’s experiences shooting a wartime propaganda movie alongside John Huston, and the celebratory Radio 4 profile Ambler at 80, in which presenter Michael Barber discusses the author’s life and work.
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What listeners say about Eric Ambler
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Tony Rawlinson
- 30-03-20
Outstanding: more Eric Ambler, please!!
Fantastic! And how good is Elliot Cowan doing John Huston??!! This is what audio entertainment is all about! More, please!
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Banjoman
- 25-07-19
Excellent dramatization.
A brilliant dramatized version of three Eric Ambler books by the BBC.
Epitaph for a Spy.
In 1930's France, a naïve and hapless language teacher, is forced to discover a spy, in this Agatha Christie style thriller.
Journey into Fear.
At the beginning of WW2, a polite well mannered English engineer, flees Istanbul on board a passenger steamer, but the assassins are in pursuit.
The Levanter.
Syria 1970, the head of an engineering company and his secretary/lover, unavoidably become involved with terrorists.
The autobiographical play about Ambler during the war, is an account of his time with American film director John Huston, before and during the allied forces campaign in Italy. It is a good play and well worth listening to.
Ambler at 80, is an interesting documentary about Ambler's life and work. Included are excerpts of an interview with Eric Ambler.
All three dramatizations are entertaining drama's of the times, with good characterisation, suspense, and some comical situations. Ambler was obviously a very good writer, and had a keen eye for the ordinary in everyone, which he then placed in extraordinary circumstances.
If you like John le Carre or Graham Greene, I think you'll enjoy this.
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4 people found this helpful
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- HalfMyLife
- 18-08-19
An interesting look back
I enjoyed these few stories very much and it was interesting to hear how little the world's situation has changed. Persecution and suspicion continue as always. Thrillers are more sophisticated these days, often not for the better. These are simple and straightforward. Plus a surprising and honest insight into the mind of the author at the end.
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Damaris W
- 10-04-23
Great
Plays are excellent and the documentary at the end is a must if you’re interested in spy and detective novels!
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Overall1 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story1 out of 5 stars
- Tiger
- 08-07-21
Disappointing
Not to my taste , I prefer characters I care about but I didn't bond with any of these particularly.
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