Book description
Story of how one man, working in obscurity and total secrecy,
influenced the course of world history over 30 years of war and peace,
told by his son.
"Biography of one of the most remarkable figures in British
intelligence." The Times "A compelling account"
Birmingham Post "One of the many useful things to be had from this
book is its portrayal of how much GC&CS in its early days resembled
a family." Literary Review "A gripping read for all those
interested in the world of espionage." Worcester News "This
affectionate memoir and commentary - with much material from Commander
Denniston himself - is a valuable addition to the story of Ultra and
what came before it." Len Deighton, author of The Ipcress File
"Vivid insights" The Spectator Robin Denniston has been a
publisher all his working life. Starting as a trainee in Collins's
Glasgow factory in 1950, he moved to work as an editor in their London
office until 1958 when after a short period in a small religious press
he joined Hodder and Stoughton as promotion manager, rising to become
editorial and then managing director there. In 1974 he left Hodders to
become Deputy Chairman of Weidenfeld and Nicolson, and 18 months later
he was headhunted by the Thomson group to take charge of their book
publishing activities - Nelson, Michael Joseph, Hamish Hamilton,
Rainbird and Sphere paperbacks. He left Thomson in 1978, the year of his
ordination as deacon in the church of England, to become academic
publisher at Oxford University Press, additionally taking charge of the
general and reference division which published the Oxford dictionaries.
He retired in 1989 and died in 2011
