The Human Factor: Penguin Classics

Maurice Castle is a high-level operative of the British secret service during the Cold War era. Deeply in love with his African wife who escaped apartheid South Africa with the help of Castle’s Communist friend, Despite his misgivings, Castle decides to act as a double agent passing information to the Soviets. In order to evade detection, he allows his assistant to be wrongly identified as the source of the leaks. But when suspicions remain, Castle is forced to make an even more excruciating sacrifice to save himself. Originally published in 1978, The Human Factor is an exciting novel of espionage drawn from Greene’s own experiences in MI6 during World War II, and ultimately a deeply humanistic examination of the very nature of loyalty. This edition features a new introduction by Colm Tóibín.