He has been described as the “godfather of Brit noir” and one of the “most important authors you’ve never heard of”.
His credits range from working on a film for the Beatles to the creation of one of Michael Caine’s most iconic roles.
Ted Lewis broke the mould in British crime writing in the 1960s. His most famous work, the novel Jack’s Return Home, was adapted into the film Get Carter.
Lewis spent his formative years in Barton-upon-Humber, which had a big influence on his writing, according to his biographer Nick Triplow.
The finale of the novel is set in ruined brickworks on the Humber foreshore – a location transplanted to Hartlepool in the film.
“Lewis brings his own life and his own experiences into his writing,” says Mr Triplow.
“Some of the characters in Get Carter [are] named after people he knew in Barton at the time.”
Lewis studied at Hull College of Art and started travelling to London to see jazz gigs at Ronnie Scott’s.
He moved to the capital, where he finished his first novel and, in 1967, worked on the animation for the Beatles’ Yellow Submarine film.
