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Here Lies: An Autobiography
The English author describes his life, the development of his literary career, and his experiences in the Army during World War II
233 pages, Hardcover
First published December 31, 1985
11 people are currently reading
147 people want to read
About the author
Eric Ambler
115 books502 followersSuspense novels of noted English writer Eric Ambler include
Passage of Arms
(1959).
Eric Ambler began his career in the early 1930s and quickly established a reputation as a thriller of extraordinary depth and originality. People often credit him as the inventor of the modern political thriller, and John Le Carré once described him as "the source on which we all draw."
Ambler began his working life at an engineering firm and then at an advertising agency and meanwhile in his spare time worked on his ambition, plays. He first published in 1936 and turned full-time as his reputation. During the war, people seconded him to the film unit of the Army, where he among other projects authored The Way Ahead with Peter Ustinov.
He moved to Hollywood in 1957 and during eleven years to 1968 scripted some memorable films, A Night to Remember and The Cruel Sea, which won him an Oscar nomination.
In a career, spanning more than six decades, Eric Ambler authored 19 books, the crime writers' association awarded him its gold dagger award in 1960. Joan Harrison married him and co-wrote many screenplays of Alfred Hitchcock, who in fact organized their wedding.
Eric Ambler began his career in the early 1930s and quickly established a reputation as a thriller of extraordinary depth and originality. People often credit him as the inventor of the modern political thriller, and John Le Carré once described him as "the source on which we all draw."
Ambler began his working life at an engineering firm and then at an advertising agency and meanwhile in his spare time worked on his ambition, plays. He first published in 1936 and turned full-time as his reputation. During the war, people seconded him to the film unit of the Army, where he among other projects authored The Way Ahead with Peter Ustinov.
He moved to Hollywood in 1957 and during eleven years to 1968 scripted some memorable films, A Night to Remember and The Cruel Sea, which won him an Oscar nomination.
In a career, spanning more than six decades, Eric Ambler authored 19 books, the crime writers' association awarded him its gold dagger award in 1960. Joan Harrison married him and co-wrote many screenplays of Alfred Hitchcock, who in fact organized their wedding.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
December 21, 2018
Eric Ambler's autobiography begins with a great opening chapter. Coming round from a near fatal road traffic accident in Switzerland he describes his experiences, as well as including some hilarious accounts of interviews with people at book promoting events. After this the book settles down into pretty standard stuff: his family, his childhood in South London, school days, early work, his ambition to be a playwright, his first novels. The final third of the book focuses on his war experiences, with some dramatic escapades in Italy with John Huston. The story ends shortly after the war with some thoughts about writing fiction and writing screenplays.
There was perhaps less than I would have liked about the genesis of his novels, but throughout Ambler presents an entertaining and interesting picture of himself, his family and his life. The account is genial and often frank, but also selective. Less perhaps is revealed than is immediately apparent.
There was perhaps less than I would have liked about the genesis of his novels, but throughout Ambler presents an entertaining and interesting picture of himself, his family and his life. The account is genial and often frank, but also selective. Less perhaps is revealed than is immediately apparent.
February 5, 2018
Having read a handful of Ambler’s fictions, I was keen to learn more about the man himself. This book was a tremendously fun way to do it. Ambler is a likeable companion as he takes you through the story of his own life, from son of small-time theatre folk to bestselling international author and friend to the stars. Although it ends rather abruptly (his years in Hollywood and Switzerland are more hinted at than described), it lifts the lid on a fascinating period of history from the 1920s to the Second World War.
There’s a lot here for fans of Ambler’s novels. We follow his growing interest in international politics and his development from naive youth into well-travelled and expert handler of an expense account and there are some great cameos from figures such as Winston Churchill, David Niven and WS Maugham.
The only shame (other than the abrupt finish) is that there is so little of Ambler himself. His worldview is suggested but not fully described and certainly not analysed. This may be the product of his fictional style, for which the protagonist is often the least interesting character and is often the vehicle through which the reader meets far more fascinating people and enters thrilling new environments.
There’s a lot here for fans of Ambler’s novels. We follow his growing interest in international politics and his development from naive youth into well-travelled and expert handler of an expense account and there are some great cameos from figures such as Winston Churchill, David Niven and WS Maugham.
The only shame (other than the abrupt finish) is that there is so little of Ambler himself. His worldview is suggested but not fully described and certainly not analysed. This may be the product of his fictional style, for which the protagonist is often the least interesting character and is often the vehicle through which the reader meets far more fascinating people and enters thrilling new environments.
July 25, 2018
Someone who's opinion I valued, recommend "The Mask of Dimitrios" as a really good thriller, so when I saw this autobiography by its author on a Kindle deal, I grabbed it. I struggled with it initially, feeling bored as there was no immediate connection. I went back for a second go and things picked up as it moved in to the 'interesting people I met' section and - to be fair - the connection had started to build.
Biographies/memoirs are a genre I'm particularly looking at as a writer, and I learned a fair bit from this one, if not the inspiration that I was seeking.
Biographies/memoirs are a genre I'm particularly looking at as a writer, and I learned a fair bit from this one, if not the inspiration that I was seeking.
April 30, 2025
Disappointing. The first chapter was really engaging - Ambler describes a life-threatening car crash and time spent in hospital, which leads in to an entertaining dissection of the demands of book promotion, going on tours, giving talks, being interviewed, signing hundreds of copies of books. And its a chapter which flatters to deceive, because everything thereafter is rather bland.
He records events. He was born and raised here. He did this, he did that, this happened. And it's bland and characterless. It also lacks any sense of history - boyhood during First World War, experiences of Depression, the onset of the Second World War. The world happens. History happens. We get a biography which takes Ambler up to 1945 or thereabouts, he mentions people he meets ... but after reading some of his fiction you expect a bit of analysis, of character development. You expect something more sophisticated and engaging.
Bland and disappointing.
He records events. He was born and raised here. He did this, he did that, this happened. And it's bland and characterless. It also lacks any sense of history - boyhood during First World War, experiences of Depression, the onset of the Second World War. The world happens. History happens. We get a biography which takes Ambler up to 1945 or thereabouts, he mentions people he meets ... but after reading some of his fiction you expect a bit of analysis, of character development. You expect something more sophisticated and engaging.
Bland and disappointing.
October 22, 2018
Here Lies
by Eric Ambler
Agora Books
Biographies & Memoirs , Mystery & Thrillers
Pub Date 26 Jan 2016
I am reviewing a copy of Here Lies through Agora Books and Netgalley:
In this insightful autobiography we get a look into the lives of one of the greatest thriller writers Eric Ambler.
This book talks about everything from his South London Childhood to his brief engineering career to his time as an advertising copywriter as well as publishing his spy novels. He even goes on to even talk about his time at war.
I give Here Lies five out of five stars!
Happy Reading!
In this insightful autobiography we get a look into the lives of one of the greatest thriller writers Eric Ambler.
This book talks about everything from his South London Childhood to his brief engineering career to his time as an advertising copywriter as well as publishing his spy novels. He even goes on to even talk about his time at war.
I give Here Lies five out of five stars!
Happy Reading!
July 16, 2019
The author wrote a great account of the personal journey they embarked on. The honest and detailed writing made it easy for the reader to feel invested in their journey.
April 9, 2022
While it does pick up in places, surprisingly boring
November 7, 2021
It's amazing how an author who writes such brilliant, page-turner thrillers can write such a boring autobiography. With the exception of a few pieces of information that I find helpful for various reasons, this was not very informative, opaque, and just not very compelling.
January 12, 2019
Thankyou to NetGalley, Agora Books and the author, Eric Ambler, for the opportunity to read a digital copy of Here Lies in exchange for an honest and unbiased opinion.
I usually don't read autobiographies but I was intrigued by the description of this one. I am certainly glad I gave it a go.
It thought the book was well written and, at times, funny. I enjoyed reading Here Lies immensely.
I usually don't read autobiographies but I was intrigued by the description of this one. I am certainly glad I gave it a go.
It thought the book was well written and, at times, funny. I enjoyed reading Here Lies immensely.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews