Journey Into Fear

Eric Ambler is often said to have invented the modern suspense novel. Beginning in 1936, he wrote a series of novels that  introduced ordinary protagonists thrust into political intrigues they were ill-prepared to deal with. These novels were touted for their realism, and Ambler established himself as a thriller writer of depth and originality.   In the process he paved the way for such writers as John Le Carré , Len Deighton, and Robert Ludlum. He was awarded four Gold Daggers and a Diamond Dagger from The Crime Writers Association, named a Grand Master by the Mystery Writers Association, and was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth. In addition to his novels, Ambler wrote a number of screenplays, including  A Night to Remember  and  The Cruel Sea, which won him an Academy Award nomination. He died in 1998.