REES, David (Edward Bernard) 1928-2004

OBITUARY NOTICE—

See index for CA sketch: Born October 15, 1928, in Swansea, Wales; died June 8, 2004. Author. Rees was a freelance writer who frequently wrote about cold-war tensions and other political and national security issues. He received a B.A. in 1952 from the University of Wales, after which he worked various jobs, including as a boarding school teacher in Perthshire and as a publicist for a light-bulb company, but never found his niche. During the mid-1960s, Rees served as literary editor for the Spectator magazine, but after the success of his first book, Korea: The Limited War (1964), he turned to writing full time.

Leaning toward a right-wing philosophy, his nonfiction titles were distinctly slanted against the ideals of the Left, and he especially saw Communist countries as a threat. His two favorite subjects were Korea and the Soviet Union, about which he wrote in such titles as The New Pressures from North Korea (1970), Soviet Strategic Penetration of Africa (1976), Afghanistan's Role in Soviet Strategy (1980), and Korea: An Illustrated History (2000). He also penned biographical works such as Harry Dexter White: A Study in Paradox (1973) and Sir Rhys ap Thomas (1985), as well as nonfiction about cold-war politics and intelligence, including The Age of Containment: The Cold War, 1945-1965 (1967) and The Crisis in United States Intelligence (1979).

OBITUARIES AND OTHER SOURCES:

PERIODICALS

Times (London, England), July 2, 2004, p. 39.