Bernard Samson
Aliases: Bernd, Bernie
Nationality: British
Occupation: British Intelligence Officer
Career History
Seconded to the German Desk in London Central, Samson was an agent in the Berlin Field Unit.
Biography
Ex-Berlin Field Unit Agent who now works at London Central (British SIS) on the German Desk.
Brought up in post-war Berlin, where his father was part of the Allied Occupation. Consequently has fluent German language skills, has many dubious German contacts and knows the back-streets of Berlin. He worked for the Berlin Field Unit, frequently going over the wire to East Germany. In 1978 he is the lone survivor in a defection operation, and is subsequently given a desk job in London.
The first Samson novel starts in 1984, when a long-term agent wants to escape from East Berlin, but believes there is a high level mole in London Central. The only person he trusts, is Bernard.
The Samson stories covers a long period and has much character development. However, the central theme, is Bernard seeking the truth about the mole in London Central, and the subsequent cover-ups.
Bernard can't cook, preferring take-aways. He feels that he is always in a class struggle, particularly with his wife, Fiona, and the shadow surrounding an event his father was involved in.
Hobbies: Model railways
Drinks: Guinness, Laphroaig whiskey
Books Featured In
- 1983 "Berlin Game" by Len Deighton
- 1984 "Mexico Set" by Len Deighton
- 1985 "London Match" by Len Deighton
- 1988 "Spy Hook" by Len Deighton
- 1989 "Spy Line" by Len Deighton
- 1990 "Spy Sinker" by Len Deighton
- 1994 "Faith" by Len Deighton
- 1995 "Hope" by Len Deighton
- 1996 "Charity" by Len Deighton
Beside the bed, my photo stared back at me from its silver frame. Bernard Samson, a serious young man with baby face, wavy hair and horn-rimmed glasses looked nothing like the wrinkled old fool I shaved every morning.
Berlin Game by Len Deighton
"One of my great advantages in this business is that I look a little simple-minded; but I don't stop there; I act a little simple-minded; I'm crafty, nasty, suspicious and irritable. I look under beds and I rap lamp-posts for hollow compartments. The moment that you think that you know who your friends are is the moment to get another job."
??? by Len Deighton
Bernard Samson could be an amusing companion if he was in a good mood. His caustic comments on his superiors, the government and indeed the world around him were partly his defence against a system that had never given him a proper chance in life, but they sometimes contained more than a grain of truth. Bernard's reputation was of being lucky, but his luck came from a professional attitude and a lot of hard work.
Spy Sinker by Len Deighton
Programmes Featured In
- 1988 "Game, Set and Match" portrayed by Ian Holm
