Edward Spiro (1908-1979) was a popular writer of supposedly true spy
stories.

He used several aliases, including Peter Leighton, Peter Morland,
Ronald Reckitt, Edward H Spire and, most famously, E H Cookridge.

As Cookridge, he wrote his first book "Secrets of the British Secret
Service" (1948) which included some highly coloured versions of true
events.

He also included an Appendix in which he listed some of the names
included on the Gestapo "Black List" (See ID 232795) and, among the
names, was that of "Mr Edward Spiro".

However, having now obtained a copy of the Black List, I have been
unable to find Spiro listed under any of his names.

Could someone please let me have links for any CRITICAL comments on
Spiro's works?

---

Clarification of Question by probonopublico-ga on 16 Aug 2003 10:57 PDT

OK ... so I've upped the price again.

Bryan,

Thank you very much for accepting my remarks as an answer to your
question. This was an interesting search; even though I turned up very
little for you, I learned quite a lot.

I am reposting my only discovery below.

I have found no evidence that he ever published under his birth name
of Edward Spiro. It appears that all of this man's works were brought
out under the various pseudonyms that you listed.
 
I did come across an interesting tidbit: a person by the name of
Edward H. Spiro founded The Helvetia Philatelic Society of Great
Britain in 1946:
 
Helvetia Philatelic Society of Great Britain
http://www.hirundo.freeserve.co.uk/ 

Search terms used:

"Edward Spiro"
"Edward * Spiro"
"Peter Leighton" 
"Peter Morland"
"Ronald Reckitt" 
"Edward H Spire"
"E H Cookridge"
 
Best, 
Pink

There are many challengers but you're still the tops.

I took a shot at this, but the shot went nowhere near the target. :-(

I have found no evidence that he ever published under his birth name
of Edward Spiro. It appears that all of this man's works were brought
out under the various pseudonyms that you listed.

I did come across an interesting tidbit: a person by the name of
Edward H. Spiro founded The Helvetia Philatelic Society of Great
Britain in 1946:

http://www.hirundo.freeserve.co.uk/

~Pink

I didn't know that!

Many thanks, Pink One.

Did you know that there is a little town named Spiro in Oklahoma? It's
near the Arkansas border. Spiro is famous for some Indian burial
mounds that are of great interest to archaeologists.

Spiro was also the first name of one of the most infamous
Vice-Presidents of the United States.

And that's practically all I know about Spiro. ;-)

In 1989 the Imperial War Museum published a facsimile reprint of the
Black List:
http://www.literaturepochen.at/exil/mm7866.html

It seems to be out of print:

http://www.iwm.org.uk/shopping/publicate.htm
http://www.iwm.org.uk/pdf_files/bookcat2.pdf

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0901627518/ref=sr_aps_books_1_1/026-0255999-7086012

Copac should show you the libraries which hold a copy:
http://www.copac.ac.uk/copac/wzgw
After clicking on "Author/Title Search" enter "0901627518" as ISBN. 3
results should follow.

As this is a facsimile reprint it may give you some additional
information not mentioned in "The Last Ditch".

Hi, fp

The list included in 'The Last Ditch' is also a facsimile and I have
every reason to believe that it's complete.

The problem was that it was much reduced. However, I had the list
enlarged.

Many thanks for the copac link ... This has helped me to find a very
rare book that I've been looking for, for years.

Regards

Bryan

Hi, fp

I have now located some more books, thanks to COPAC.

And, of course, thanks to you in the first place.

Bryan

Hi, Pinky

Many thanks for the info about the Helvetia Philatelic.

I've asked them if this is the same man.

Regards

Bryan

Hi, Pinky

My enquiries to the Helevetia thing have produced some interesting results.

Many thanks!

You just get better and better.

Is this entirely due to your diet of catfish pie?

Rgds

Bryan

Bryan,

I do not believe my consumption of catfish is responsible for my
researching abilities. It's an interesting theory, but I know many
people who eat quite a lot of catfish, and who nevertheless have I.Q.s
in the room-temperature range, and would not know a search engine if
one rushed up to them on a railroad track yelling "all aboard".

~Pink

Hi, Pinky

I have now adjusted the price (again) on this question as I intend to close it.

Will you do me the honour of posting your info on Helvetia as an Answer?

Kindest regards

Bryan