Martin Sixsmith books

Martin Sixsmith is a British author and former BBC journalist who writes both fiction and non-fiction, often focused on Russia and modern political history.

Anthologies

Title Published Buy on Amazon
Historically Inevitable? 2016 Buy

Non-Fiction

Title Published Buy on Amazon
Moscow Coup 1991 Buy
The Litvinenko File 2007 Buy
The Lost Child of Philomena Lee 2009 Buy
Putin’s Oil 2010 Buy
Russia 2011 Buy
Ayesha’s Gift 2017 Buy
The War of Nerves 2021 Buy
The Russia Conundrum 2022 Buy

Standalone Novels

Title Published Buy on Amazon
Spin 2004 Buy
I Heard Lenin Laugh 2006 Buy
An Unquiet Heart 2019 Buy

Martin Sixsmith spent over two decades as a BBC correspondent, including postings in Moscow, Washington, and Brussels, before turning to writing books. His non-fiction work reflects that career. Moscow Coup covers the 1991 Soviet upheaval, The Litvinenko File investigates the poisoning of a former Russian spy in London, and Russia is a single-volume history of the country from its origins to the present day.

His most widely known book is The Lost Child of Philomena Lee, published in 2009. It tells the story of Philomena Lee, an Irish woman who was forced to give up her son for adoption in the 1950s and spent decades searching for him. The book was adapted into the Oscar-nominated film Philomena in 2013. Sixsmith also appears as a character in the film, played by Steve Coogan.

On the fiction side, Sixsmith has written three novels. Spin is a political satire about media manipulation in British government, while I Heard Lenin Laugh is set in the final years of the Soviet Union. An Unquiet Heart, published in 2019, is a love story set against the Russian Revolution and its aftermath.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many books has Martin Sixsmith written?

Martin Sixsmith has written twelve books across three series.

What was Martin Sixsmith's first book?

Martin Sixsmith’s first book is Moscow Coup, published in 1991.

What is Martin Sixsmith best known for?

Sixsmith is best known for The Lost Child of Philomena Lee, which tells the true story of an Irish woman searching for the son taken from her by nuns. The book was adapted into the 2013 film Philomena, starring Judi Dench.

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