Funeral in Berlin

Funeral in Berlin is a spy novel by Len Deighton. The subject of the novel — arranging a Soviet scientist's defection — is dated, but the characters (especially Johnny Vulkan and Colonel Stok) remain memorable. Another controversial character is the civil servant Hallam, who is shown to be susceptible to blackmail because he is homosexual; male homosexuality remained illegal in England until 1967. The unnamed hero travels to Berlin to arrange the... more

Funeral in Berlin is a spy novel by Len Deighton. The subject of the novel — arranging a Soviet scientist's defection — is dated, but the characters (especially Johnny Vulkan and Colonel Stok) remain memorable. Another controversial character is the civil servant Hallam, who is shown to be susceptible to blackmail because he is homosexual; male homosexuality remained illegal in England until 1967. The unnamed hero travels to Berlin to arrange the defection of Soviet scientist Semitsa brokered by Johnny Vulkan a wheeler-dealer in the Berlin intelligence community. Despite his initial scepticism the deal seems to have the support of Russian security-chief Colonel Stok and Hallam in the British government's Home Office. But why does the fake documentation for Semitsa need to be so precisely specified? And what is the interest of Israeli intelligence agent Samantha Steel in the case? The complex plot unfolds to reveal a story of betrayal, murder and concentration camp secrets long... less