The Human Factor
by Graham Greene · first published 1978
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2HN commenters
2021–2023first – last mentioned
50% recommend50% neutral
"In the low-key but treacherous domain of "the firm," Maurice Castle performs routine intelligence duties that are less than world-shattering. Then a new security chief, "a broom," is appointed. As he sweeps through the department, he uncovers a leak, a systematic betrayal involving the major powers in South Africa. Castle's associate, Davis, had access to the files in question and his drinking, gambling, and incurable romanticism make him a likely double agent. Castle himself is above suspicion; he had always been very careful. Except when he fell in love." (From first page Avon paperback Fe
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Recently reading Graham Greene's The Human Factor, its portrayal of Western Intelligence agencies being mired in moral ambiguity and beurocratic confusions was compelling reading. I hear it was even made into a rather successful film. (Spoiler below.) . . . . . . .…
on “The most sensational Western spy failures in the USSR” ↗I think Graham Greene isn't appreciated much now. His " Human Factor" for example is a superlative example of a spy novel.
on “John le Carré’s Search for a Vocation” ↗…Greene's earlier novels (A Gun for Sale, for example, became This Gun for Hire). Later U.S. editions restored the original titles. Interestingly, a request from the publisher to retitle his late novel, The Human Factor, led to Greene changing publishers so while everything before that was published by Viking Penguin, beginning with The Human Factor, his U.S. publisher was Simon & Schuster (and later Reinhardt Books,…
on “Graham Greene Against the World” ↗