Dr Berlin

First published in 2001, Dr Berlin was the final volume in Francis Bennett's Cold War trilogy. 'For all of us now the Cold War is history... What interested me as a writer was how we survived. What went on behind the scenes?... I went looking for my own fictional explanations for historical events...' Francis Bennett Dr Andrei Berlin is a respected Moscow academic and Party member - also a secret informer who has sickened of his own lies and weakness. On the eve of departure to lecture in Cambridge he is asked by a disillusioned faction in the Soviet military to deliver a message to the West. Can Berlin redeem his life of deception by one courageous act? 'A fine, satisfying espionage novel.' Kirkus Reviews 'A rare piece of subtle and complex storytelling.' The Times

Francis Bennett was educated at Radley and Cambridge. He worked in publishing for nearly twenty years, finally as the Group Managing Director of Thomson Books. In 1987 he co-founded Book Data, the first bibliographic agency anywhere to introduce full information about titles. He was its Managing Director from 1987 until 2005 when he was appointed Chairman. He retired from Nielsen BookData in 2006. For many years Francis Bennett served as the Vice-Chairman of the Book Development Council, the export department of the UK'S Publishers Association. He has Chairman of the Society of Bookmen and has served on many other boards, committees and panels. He has received a British Book Award 'Lifetime Achievement'. He now acts as a publishing consultant.