Gordon Thomas
Encyclopedia
Gordon Thomas is a Welsh author who has written fifty-three books. The total sales of his works exceed 45 million copies. Thomas divides his time between his homes in Ireland and England, with his wife, an interior designer. His five children work in various parts of the entertainment industry.
competition. With his father in the RAF, he traveled widely and was educated at the Cairo High School
, the Maritz Brothers in Port Elizabeth and, finally, at Bedford Modern.
His first book, completed at the age of seventeen, is the story of a British spy in Russia during World War II
, titled Descent Into Danger. He refused the offer of a job at a university in order to accompany a traveling fair for a year: he used those experiences for his novel Bed of Nails. Since then his books have been published worldwide. He has been a foreign correspondent beginning with the Suez Crisis
and ending with the first Gulf War
. He was a BBC writer/producer for three flagship BBC
programmes: Man Alive, Tomorrow's World
and Horizon. He is a regular contributor to Facta, the respected monthly Japanese news magazine, and he lectures widely on the secret world of intelligence. He also provides expert analysis on intelligence for US and European television and radio programs.
His book Gideon's Spies: Mossad's Secret Warriors became a major documentary for Channel Four that he wrote and narrated: The Spy Machine
. It followed three years of research during which he was given unprecedented access to Mossad
’s main personnel. The documentary was co-produced by Open Media
and Israfilm.
Gideon's Spies: Mossad's Secret Warriors has so far been published in 16 languages. A source for this book is Ari Ben-Menashe
, a self-described former Mossad agent. According to Charles Foster
in Contemporary Review
: "Writers who know their place are few and far between: fortunately Mr Thomas is one of them. By keeping to his place as a tremendous storyteller without a preacher's pretensions, he has put his book amongst the important chronicles of the state of Israel." http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m2242/is_1606_275/ai_58055879
Biography
Thomas was born in Wales, in a cemetery keeper’s cottage where his grandmother lived. He had his first story published at nine years old in a Boy's Own PaperBoy's Own Paper
The Boy's Own Paper was a British story paper aimed at young and teenage boys, published from 1879 to 1967.-Publishing history:The idea for the publication was first raised in 1878 by the Religious Tract Society as a means to encourage younger children to read and also instil Christian morals...
competition. With his father in the RAF, he traveled widely and was educated at the Cairo High School
Cairo High School
Cairo High School is a public high school in Cairo, Georgia. The motto for the school is "With Pride, We Give Our Best". The school has the widely known Syrupmaker Band, "The Pride of Dixie". The award winning marching band is under the direction of National High School Band Director's Hall of...
, the Maritz Brothers in Port Elizabeth and, finally, at Bedford Modern.
His first book, completed at the age of seventeen, is the story of a British spy in Russia during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, titled Descent Into Danger. He refused the offer of a job at a university in order to accompany a traveling fair for a year: he used those experiences for his novel Bed of Nails. Since then his books have been published worldwide. He has been a foreign correspondent beginning with the Suez Crisis
Suez Crisis
The Suez Crisis, also referred to as the Tripartite Aggression, Suez War was an offensive war fought by France, the United Kingdom, and Israel against Egypt beginning on 29 October 1956. Less than a day after Israel invaded Egypt, Britain and France issued a joint ultimatum to Egypt and Israel,...
and ending with the first Gulf War
Gulf War
The Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...
. He was a BBC writer/producer for three flagship BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
programmes: Man Alive, Tomorrow's World
Tomorrow's World
Tomorrow's World was a long-running BBC television series, showcasing new developments in the world of science and technology. First aired on 7 July 1965 on BBC1, it ran for 38 years until it was cancelled at the beginning of 2003.- Content :...
and Horizon. He is a regular contributor to Facta, the respected monthly Japanese news magazine, and he lectures widely on the secret world of intelligence. He also provides expert analysis on intelligence for US and European television and radio programs.
His book Gideon's Spies: Mossad's Secret Warriors became a major documentary for Channel Four that he wrote and narrated: The Spy Machine
The Spy Machine
The Spy Machine was a documentary special about the work of the Mossad, made by Open Media and Israfilm and first broadcast by Channel 4 in May 1998...
. It followed three years of research during which he was given unprecedented access to Mossad
Mossad
The Mossad , short for HaMossad leModi'in uleTafkidim Meyuchadim , is the national intelligence agency of Israel....
’s main personnel. The documentary was co-produced by Open Media
Open Media
Open Media is a British television production company, best known for the discussion series After Dark, described by The Daily Mail as "the most intelligent, thought-provoking and interesting programme ever to have been on television"....
and Israfilm.
Gideon's Spies: Mossad's Secret Warriors has so far been published in 16 languages. A source for this book is Ari Ben-Menashe
Ari Ben-Menashe
Ari Ben-Menashe is the author of Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network, a book purporting to describe his involvement in Iran-Contra and other intelligence operations. An Iraqi Jew who was educated in Israel, he is a former Israeli government employee, and has said that he...
, a self-described former Mossad agent. According to Charles Foster
Charles A. Foster
Charles Foster is an English writer, traveller and barrister. He is known for his books and articles on Natural History, travel , theology, law and medical ethics. He is a Fellow of Green Templeton College, Oxford...
in Contemporary Review
Contemporary Review
-Foundation:It was founded in 1866 by Alexander Strahan and a group of intellectuals anxious to promote intelligent and independent opinion about the great issues of their day. They intended it to be the church-minded counterpart of the resolutely secular Fortnightly Review, which was founded by...
: "Writers who know their place are few and far between: fortunately Mr Thomas is one of them. By keeping to his place as a tremendous storyteller without a preacher's pretensions, he has put his book amongst the important chronicles of the state of Israel." http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m2242/is_1606_275/ai_58055879
Major Awards
- An International Television Award from the Festival de Télévision de Monte-CarloFestival de Télévision de Monte-CarloThe Monte-Carlo Television Festival was created in 16-20 January 1961 by Prince Rainier III of Monaco, who wished to “encourage a new art form, in the service of peace and understanding between men”....
. - Two Mark Twain Society Awards for Reporting Excellence
- ShipwreckShipwreckA shipwreck is what remains of a ship that has wrecked, either sunk or beached. Whatever the cause, a sunken ship or a wrecked ship is a physical example of the event: this explains why the two concepts are often overlapping in English....
won him the Edgar Allan Poe Award.
Book clubs
Gordon's works have appeared in:- The Book of the Month ClubBook of the Month ClubThe Book of the Month Club is a United States mail-order book sales club that offers a new book each month to customers.The Book of the Month Club is part of a larger company that runs many book clubs in the United States and Canada. It was formerly the flagship club of Book-of-the-Month Club, Inc...
- The Literary Guild Book
- The Readers Digest Book Club
Film Translations
- Voyage of the DamnedVoyage of the DamnedVoyage of the Damned is the title of a 1974 book written by Gordon Thomas and Max Morgan-Witts, which was the basis of a 1976 drama film with the same title.The story was inspired by true events concerning the fate of the MS St...
won five Academy Award nominations - Enola Gay won the Emmy Awards Foreign Critics Prize
- Experiences won the Experiences won the Juries and Critics prize at the Monte Carlo Film Festival