Dirty Story (novel)
First edition (publ. The Bodley Head) | |
| Author | Eric Ambler |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Publisher | The Bodley Head |
Publication date | 1967 |
| Publication place | United Kingdom |
| Media type | |
| OCLC | 1264477400 |
| Preceded by | A Kind of Anger |
| Followed by | The Intercom Conspiracy |
Dirty Story: A Further Account of the Life and Adventures of Arthur Abdel Simpson is a 1967 novel by Eric Ambler. It was also published as This Gun for Hire.
The book continues the life of Ambler's anti-hero, petty criminal Arthur Abdel Simpson, a man whose English father and Egyptian mother have given him uncertain citizenship. Simpson took part in a daring Istanbul robbery in Ambler's earlier novel The Light of Day.
In Dirty Story Simpson faces the prospect of becoming a penniless exile, a non-citizen of any country. He is forced to become a mercenary for a cynical Central African mining company seeking to secure control of land rich in rare earth ores. He is a misfit with little military experience and is unsuited for the role of mercenary; however, he manages to outwit his ruthless adversaries who are seasoned professionals.
This is one of several novels by Ambler in which statelessness or the danger of becoming stateless (an exile, not a citizen of any country and unwelcome in all countries) features prominently in the plot.
It was nominated for the 1967 Gold Dagger award.