I love this novel because it is superficially a genre novel (mystery-thriller-espionage) but the spy stuff is just background for fleshed out characters, and there really is not a lot of plot machinations to get lost in, like I do with a lot of Le Carre's works (or even Greene's earlier novels). My favorite bit is when the protagonist, out of pity, attends the wedding of the daughter of a stuffy, lonely security officer. ( )

One of my favourite Greene novels so far. Character, plot and pacing are all superb. The contemporary (1970s) setting is highly unusual, given that the subject of spies in British intelligence was a feature of earlier decades. This topic is discussed with intelligence in the introduction (to this edition only) by Colm Tóibín. The problem with Greene writing in the 'spy' genre is how much he ruins the work of John Le Carré. Le Carré, who could write very well when judged on his own merits, seems a pale imitation when his works are compared with a book like The Human Factor. Highly recommended, especially for anyone new to Greene. ( )

Good

Maurice Castle is a member of the secret service during the cold war. He can best be destribed as the total opposite of James Bond. Maurice is to the roots of his hair a domestic house-husband. He wants nothing more than to be at home with his African wife Sarah and his adoptive son. Unfortunatly, Maurice is in very big trouble.

When I started the book, I found the tone of it to be cold and distant. After reading a few dozen pages, however, I had realised Graham Greene had done it again: he made me fall in love with his characters. While Graham Greene is known for his great plots, his real power as a writer the creation of great characters, who you can not but love and care for. ( )

E' un uomo normale il protagonista, Castle, un uomo gentile, elegante, medio che vive apparentemente la sua mediocrità. Ma questa normalità piano piano diventa altro, quasi sottotraccia scopri il doppio volto di quest'uomo che si è impegnato in una causa giusta.
Ma questo impegno ha un costo che lo costringerà ad un cambio di vita repentino, tanto repentino da dover sacrificare gli affetti ed il suo grigio quotidiano. Un libro dove sembra che non accada niente. Un libro quasi silenzioso, sotto tono. Soltanto alla fine ne comprendi la profondità e la comprendi vivendo un senso di vuoto e disperazione laceranti.... ma sempre bisbigliati.... ( )