Leslie Thomas

Leslie Thomas, OBE (born March 22, 1931, in Newport, Monmouthshire, Wales) is a British author.

Virgin Soldiers

His novels about 1950's British National Service such as "The Virgin Soldiers" spawned two film versions, in 1969 and 1977, whilst his "" and "Dangerous Davies, The Last Detective" have been adapted for television (the former as "Tropic" in 1979 and latter having also spawned a film version, in 1981).

Barnardo's Boy

Orphaned at the age of 12, Thomas was subsequently brought up in a Dr Barnardo's home; the story of this upbringing was the subject of his first, autobiographical, book, "This Time Next Week".

In 1949, Thomas was called up for National Service and embarked on a 2-year tour of duty in Singapore with the Royal Army Pay Corps. While there he was briefly involved with the military action against communist rebels in Malaya (now Malaysia). He also began to write short articles for publication in English newspapers.

On his return to England in 1951, Thomas continued working for the local newspaper group in North London where he had worked before his National Service, but within 5 years he was working for The Exchange Telegraph news agency, now Extel, and eventually with the London Evening News newspaper, first as a sub-editor, later as a reporter. He stayed with the Evening News until 1965, when he embarked full-time on his writing career.

In 1984, Thomas published In My Wildest Drams recounting his childhood in South Wales, his days in Doctor Barnardo's Homes in London, his National Service in the Far East, and his journalistic career.

OBE

In the New Year Honours List published 31 December 2004, he was made an officer of the Order of the British Empire for services to Literature.

Bibliography

Biographical
*"This Time Next Week" (1964)
*"In My Wildest Dreams" (1984)

Novels
*"The Virgin Soldiers" (1966)
*"Orange Wednesday" (1967)
*"The Love Beach" (1968)
*"Come to the War" (1969)
*"His Lordship" (1970)
*"Onward Virgin Soldiers" (1971)
*"Arthur McCann and All His Women" (1972)
*"The Man with the Power" (1973)
*"Tropic of Ruislip" (1974)
*"Stand Up Virgin Soldiers" (1975)
*"Dangerous Davies, the Last Detective" (1976)
*"Bare Nell" (1977)
*"Ormerod's Landing" (1978)
*"That Old Gang of Mine" (1979)
*"The Magic Army" (1981)
*"The Dearest and the Best" (1984)
*"The Adventures of Goodnight and Loving" (1986)
*"Dangerous in Love" (1987)
*"Orders for New York" (1989)
*"Evening News Short Stories" (1990)
*"The Loves and Journeys of Revolving Jones" (1991)
*"Arrivals and Departures" (1992)
*"Running Away" (1994)
*"Dangerous by Moonlight" (1995)
*"Kensington Heights" (1996)
*"Chloe's Song" (1997)
*"Dangerous Davies and the Lonely Heart (1998)
*"Other Times" (1999)
*"Waiting for the Day" (2003)
*"Dover Beach" (2005)

Travel
*"Hidden Places of Britain" (1981)
*"A World of Islands" (1983)
*"Some Lovely Islands" (1984)