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Reporter imprisoned in 60s re-releases debut novel

A former regional journalist who was imprisoned in China for more than two years for his reporting of the Cultural Revolution there has re-released his debut novel.

Anthony Grey (pictured) was jailed while working as an international correspondent for Reuters, after being captured by Mao Tse-Tung’s Red Guards and confined the basement of his house near the historic Forbidden City of China’s Emperors for 27 months.

He has now launched a re-issue of his first book, The Jersey Stratagem, to mark the novel’s 40th anniversary.

Born in 1938, Anthony began his career at The Bearsden and Milngavie Chronicle at the age of 19, before moving onto the Eastern Daily Press.

After four years in Norwich, he joined Reuters and covered the Cold War from East Berlin, Prague, Warsaw, Sofia, Budapest and Bucharest, before being assigned to Beijing.

After his release from imprisonment in 1969, he was awarded the OBE for services to journalism and was named UK journalist of the year.

He has gone on to become a radio and television presenter, documentary film-maker, public speakers and a bestselling historical novelist.

His debut novel, The Jersey Strategem – originally titled Some Put Their Trust in Chariots – was written in 1972 while he was recuperating on the island of Jersey following his period of confinement, and tells the story of three Jewish multi-millionaires who get caught up in the Cold War and must rely on the aid of a journalist who may or may not be a spy.

The new versions of the book includes a postscript from Anthony himself explaining the origins of the story.

It is priced at £8 and is available through Anthony’s own publisher Tagman Press.

The front cover of The Jersey Stratagem, which has been re-released to celebrate its 40th anniversary