James Leasor
Thomas James Leasor was a notable British author and journalist, born on December 20, 1923, in Erith, Kent, England. He began his career as a reporter before serving in the Royal Berkshire Regiment during World War II, where he gained valuable life experiences that would later inform his writing. After the war, Leasor pursued higher education at Oriel College, Oxford, earning his degrees while also starting a family with his wife, Joan Margaret Bevan. He is best known for creating the character Jason Love, a doctor drawn into espionage, whose adventures began in the novel "Passport to Oblivion" in 1964.
Leasor's literary contributions extend beyond fiction; he authored several acclaimed nonfiction works, particularly about World War II events, which garnered significant recognition. His writings inspired film adaptations, including "The One That Got Away" and "Where the Spies Are." Throughout his career, he worked with various publishing firms and held directorial roles in film production, showcasing his versatility in both literature and media. Leasor's legacy includes his membership in esteemed organizations, reflecting a commitment to the arts and literature.
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James Leasor
Writer
- Born: December 20, 1923
- Birthplace: Erith, Kent, England
- Died: September 10, 2007
- Place of death: Wiltshire, England
Biography
Thomas James Leasor was born on December 20, 1923, in Erith, Kent, England, the son of teachers Richard Leasor and Christine Hall Leasor. He enrolled in the City of London School in 1935 but left in 1940 to work as a journalist and to study medicine. With the onset of World War II, Leasor joined the army, serving with the Royal Berkshire Regiment in India, Burma, and Malaya, and reaching the rank of captain. After the war he attended Oriel College, Oxford, where he received a B.A. in 1948 and an M.A. in 1952. Leasor married attorney Joan Margaret Bevan on December 1, 1951, and the couple had three children.
Leasor was employed as a reporter for the Kentish Times in Sidcup from 1941 to 1942, and as a reporter, columnist, feature writer, foreign correspondent, and personal assistant to the publisher for the London Daily Express from 1948 to 1955. He worked as an editorial adviser and consultant for the publishing firms George Newnes and C. Arthur Pearson from 1955 to 1969, and he was a director at Elm Tree Books from 1970 to 1974.
Leasor told his first stories to his schoolmates and edited the student magazine, The Isis, at Oxford. Much later he drew upon his medical training and the experiences of his sister, a practicing doctor, to create Jason Love, a Somerset doctor drawn into the world of espionage. Love made his first appearance in Passport to Oblivion in 1964 and was featured in numerous sequels. In this popular series, Leasor managed to combine aspects of the adventure novels of his favorite author, John Buchan, with contemporary events and concerns. Leasor also wrote fiction under the pseudonym Andrew MacAllan.
Leasor’s many nonfiction works proved as popular as his novels and brought him greater critical acclaim. A few, such as The Red Fort: An Account of the Siege of Delhi in 1857, dealt with earlier eras but most described events of World War II, such as the fall of Singapore (Singapore: The Battle That Changed the World) and the Dieppe raid (Green Beach).
Several of Leasor’s books were made into motion pictures. The One That Got Away, his biography of Franz von Werra, a German pilot during World War II, was filmed in 1957, and Leasor appeared in the 2002 documentary, Von Werra. Passport to Oblivion was filmed as Where the Spies Are and starred David Niven. Who Killed Sir Henry Oakes?, Leasor’s investigation into the 1943 murder of a famous magnate, was adapted for television as Passion and Paradise.
Leasor became a director with Pagoda Films in 1959 and also wrote for the television series My Husband and I and The Michaels in Africa He was a member of PEN and a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.