Bret Rensselaer

Bret Rensselaer was referenced in Winter and appeared in every novel featuring Bernard Samson.

Genealogy
[please refer to the association charts page for explanation of solid, versus dotted line links - between associates as well as family]

Bret Rensselaer is one of just three characters to appear in every chart published as part of the Samson Series.

The graphic for Winter refers simply to a 'Bret' linked by a solid line to Dot Turner, the second wife of Cyrus G. Rensselaer (cf. Spy Hook below). Bret's two siblings are not named, however they are collectively referred to as ' ''Dot's children by her 1st marriage. All three change name to Rensselaer & inherit Cyrus G's wealth'' '. It's noted that page 336 (Nook version) of Winter contains the line 'And Dot's grandson Bret must be seven ' however this reference to 'grandson' is likely to be an editing error.

Bret himself explains more about relations growing up: (his initial reference is presumably to his stepfather, Cyrus G. Rensselaer, not his biological father about whom we know nothing) ‘‘''My father was a lush…His two brothers forced him off the board after he’d punched one of the bank’s best customers. I was about ten years old. After that I was the only one to look after him…You have to have an infinity of compassion to look after a drunkard…My mother didn’t have that gift. And my brother Sheldon only cared about the old man’s money…Sheldon worked in the bank with my uncles…None of them tried to help him…I hated to leave him when I went into the Navy. he died before I even went to sea.’ [London Match'' Chap 17]

In the table for Berlin Game, a dotted line links Bret Rensselaer to London Central, where he is described as '''Head Economics Intelligence Committee. All information supplied by "Brahms Four''"'. Bret also has a dotted line link to Frank Harrington, Head of Berlin Field Unit.

Bret's summary in the chart for Mexico Set is now 'One-time Head of the defunct Economics Intelligence Committee scouting for another major position '. He retains a dotted line link to Frank Harrington, who remains Head of Berlin Field Unit.

Bret's entry in the graphic for London Match reads 'Chairman of Committee investigating Stinnes ' (which refers to Erich Stinnes). He is linked by dotted line to Sir Henry Clevemore, the Director-General, however this is via the latter's Personal Assistant, Morgan. Bret also has a dotted line link to "Lange" Koby.

By the time of the Spy Hook table, a solid line link is again shown between Bret and Dot Turner. Bret himself is now described as '''né Turner. Ex-London Central Shot in Berlin'' '. A dotted line links Bret to Bernard Samson.

       

In the chart for Spy Line, Bret's entry is 'Liaising w. London Central from California '. His other dotted line links to Dicky Cruyer, Head of German Desk.

       

Bret's entry in the graphic for Spy Sinker describes him as  'Fiona Samson's Case Officer Liaising from California '. He now has dotted line links to Silvester Bernstein ('Ret'd CIA. Private Investigator ') and to James Prettyman ('Ret'd SIS ').

   

In the genealogy table for Faith - interestingly as the book begins directly where Spy Sinker ends - Bret's entry sounds somewhat backward-looking: ' Case Officer while Fiona Samson under cover.' It also reads 'Acting Deputy DG'. He is linked by dotted line to Bernard Samson, but also to Gloria Kent (his  'New PA ' as well as  'Bernard Samson's mistress ').

   

Commentary
Bret Rensselaer is introduced to us as ‘The taciturn American…squeezing the arm of the busty blonde he’d brought’ [Berlin Game chap 4]. Usually though he can be seen ‘with his dark worsted Savile Row suit and the crisp white shirt and club tie, and his fair hair that was going white’ [Berlin Game chap 5].

In terms of Bret’s upbringing ‘He was rich, very rich’, with the most American thing about him being that he ‘always said Bernard with the accent on the second syllable’ [quotes Berlin Game chap 5].

Meantime his office is ‘hard, austere and colourless…just right for Bret’ [Berlin Game chap 5].

Bret presents with a ‘smile that seemed shy and fleeting but was really the reflex action that marked his indifference’, however ‘''When he got tired of playing the shy Mr. Nice Guy, he’d suddenly go for confrontation, accusation and insult. But at least he was unlikely to go behind your back’ [Berlin Game'' chap 5].

At one point in Winter, Bret was referred to as Dot's grandson.