The Outsider: My Life in Intrigue Paperback – October 11, 2016

I have been reading the outstanding works of Mr.Forsyth for 60 years. I have always been thrilled by the knowledge, research, and excitement of his presentations.It was a wonderful reading experience that enriched my knowledge of various subjects.One cannot putthese books down.Frederick Forsyth has given the reader a true picture of the underworld of government , the world, and the very connections by which it seems to operate.Thank you, MrForsyth.

First, I'll admit that Frederick is my favorite novelist. John Grisham and Tom Clancy? Very good, but they can't match Forsyth. After finishing one of his books, the reader must wonder: "How much of that was really true and how much was fiction?"Nevertheless, I was skeptical when faced with the choice of buying his autobiography. How could the life story of an English author--no matter how talented--really come anywhere close to matching the intrigue of one of his novels. Well, I shouldn't have been concerned. If a Forsyth novel is worth five stars, "The Outsider" is worth four and a half.The book traces his improbable life from that of an RAF pilot, to journalist, to foreign correspondent for newspapers and TV. It includes his stint living behind the Iron Curtain and a surprise cameo role as a spy for British Intelligence. I won't give away the details, but suffice it to say, his books may include even more insider info than we ever guessed. There is a brewing company with an advertising campaign based on "The World's Most Interesting Man." The ad agency should have hired Forsyth, not an actor, to play the lead role.Please, Frederick, write one more novel for us!

This is an unexpected gift for a Forsyth life fan. I have lived in 23 countries and The Outsider still made me feel as if I had done nothing with my life. When I went to Israel, I was treated great, wining and dining as they expect an American to enjoy; Forsyth went to Israel and met Ben Gurion. Whose trip do you want to hear about? And it never stops getting interesting. I also speak as many languages as Forsyth does--with an accent-- but he learned them very young before his throat hardened and can pass for a native. That's a biggie. Journalists make some of the best writers, they trim the story for effect, remove the sop leave the grit, and dirt, if any. He manages to narrate his firing from the BBC (it's just a guy getting the sack after all) as if it was a world event, and you find yourself not minding at all.I read all of this guy's books, and he is one of my favorite writers, but this time I think I caught him in an error. When he visits Israel, he twice describes the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem as a remaining part of a wall of Salomon's Temple. I don't think it is. Nabu trashed the First Temple, and nobody actually knows where it was located exactly. The Wailing Wall is part of Herod's Temple, an expanded Second Temple, which Roman Emperor Titus destroyed in 70 A.D., though a bit of wall is still standing. That is a minor detail, if I am right, and in no way detracts from the utter enjoyment of reading The Outsider. Write on, Fred.

I find myself going back to Forsyth's autobiography over and over. He is THE master story-teller, and his fiction always had the signature twist at the very end. Well, it turns out his life story is one intrigue after another, with twists at every turn.He was an RAF pilot, and flew a Vampire (The Shepherd). He wrote his first novel, The Day of the Jackal, because he was broke. He got it published by sheer luck, then foolishly neglected to ask for a percentage of sales (he did much better with the movie rights).He was almost killed by arms dealers while researching Dogs of War. The real Nazi criminal in The Odessa File was outed because of Forsyth's fiction. He was with the BBC in Berlin at the height of the Cold War, and bumbled onto an American spy airplane's crash in East Germany. He was used as a courier by MI-6, and attacked by MiGs and mortars in Biafra.The last chapter is especially close to my heart, because he flew the exact same classic warbird I did, and he also wrenched himself up with emotion afterwards. It was a Mark IX, too. Just like mine.His life was what boys always imagined life should be, before adulthood got in the way. If you liked his books, do yourself a favor this Christmas and get The Outsider. It turns out his novels were fire-forged in real life, except that his real life had more unbelievable twists and turns.

Extremely impressed with the author's stunning thrillers. Unfortunately, this expose does not achieve the same high standards. Not a memoir or autobiography, but rather, various selected vignettes over the course of his life -- each chapter is akin to a cuppa of hot tea, with a biscuit, sharing a chat -- each chapter is a separate conversation. Moreover, to aid in his unique accomplishments, the author was graced with uncommon loving parents who made unusual efforts to assist in attaining his goals, e.g., father's intervention in being admitted to the RAF before the requisite age 18; and further, to stay abroad alone while growing up, during summers, with various foreign families, where he became proficient in French, German, Spanish, Russian. A talented individual who remains mysterious.

A tale of a gifted individual that led a very productive and exciting life. He provided the relevant details that provided a more thorough knowledge of international events that were sometimes reported by biased individuals or news agencies. The narratives of famous people he interviewed were informative and highly entertaining. The "can do" attitude and concern for humanity reflected in the writing provides a model we all should adopt.