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kurtwombat's review against another edition
4.0
Graham Greene expanded my view of the world beyond America. The reader is invited in through the very british/ambivelent catholic soul of the main character and then taken to exotic South Africa where his love crosses racial and political boundaries. My introduction to apartheid which is only one of the political dead ends faced by this secret service bureaucrat as he faces the usual Graham Greene conflicts of faith, loyalty and conscience. Gripping all the way through with the spy intrigue deepened by trying to live with your own soul.
mbod's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death
rzahradnik's review against another edition
5.0
The best of Graham Greene I've read so far. I parcel his books out by the year so I won't run out of Graham Greene before I run out of Zahradnik. This is a spy novel that could define the double agent story--except for the human factor that makes it so much more. Real people, in love, a child, apartheid and being apart, and even jibes at Ian Fleming. The twists twist hard, you turn the pages fast and the ending hits like a sledgehammer because of the complete, real, human characters that factor in the story.
alexreadsnstuff's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
3.0
ejb44's review against another edition
funny
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
While I found the espionage aspect very exciting, even with a slow-burn, amidst all this I did have troubling with the lack of context. The setting of the foreign office its labyrinthine structure proved to be quite confusing. The intricate web of departments, positions, and their functions made it challenging to keep up with who held what role, and how they fit into the larger picture. This was further compounded by the frequent introduction of a multitude of male characters that seemed to come and go with ease. As a result, it was sometimes a struggle to keep track of who was who and their relevance to the unfolding plot.
While the writing style was undoubtedly a highlight, the occasionally convoluted context did hinder my ability to fully immerse myself in the story as I kept having to check who people were again. Perhaps this was intention - will I ever learn the intricacies of the spy world? Perhaps not, but knowing one white guy from the next would’ve helped. Nevertheless, The Human Factor remains an intriguing exploration of the human psyche within the world of espionage, revealing the intricate interplay of personal loyalties and the political landscape. For those who enjoy a touch of irony and a glimpse into the world of espionage, this book offers a compelling narrative.
I will, however, warn you of its language. Set in the Cold War, with many of the main characters having fought in Africa during WWII, the language is highly outdated, with remarks to the “good old days of Africa” i.e. when we controlled the land, and not the current state were in of having to watch Russia and America fight for it.
sbeerens's review against another edition
2.0
It is hard to explain why I didn't particularly enjoy this book. Earlier this year, I read Greene's The End of the Affair and thoroughly enjoyed it. Had it not been for that, I would probably never have picked up this novel in the first place, nor read it to the end.
There is nothing wrong with Greene's writing - it is easy to follow and I still love his style. It's also for his writing style I added the second star, as it doesn't deserve any less than that.
Therefore I must admit my low rating is solely based on the fact that the story itself just didn't appeal to me. There are too many characters that one never really gets to know well (Daintry's family members, C., Hargreaves) and that only complicate the story line. The hierarchy of the entire secret service remained a mystery to me, as did that of the communists. Maybe Greene has done this on purpose, but it confused me a great deal at times.
Some plot turns in the end might have resulted in me giving this book a 3 star rating after all, but as it's an open ending and the reader knows nothing about what will happen to any of the characters, this spoilt the fun for me again.
I guess others might like this book, but it's simply not for me.
There is nothing wrong with Greene's writing - it is easy to follow and I still love his style. It's also for his writing style I added the second star, as it doesn't deserve any less than that.
Therefore I must admit my low rating is solely based on the fact that the story itself just didn't appeal to me. There are too many characters that one never really gets to know well (Daintry's family members, C., Hargreaves) and that only complicate the story line. The hierarchy of the entire secret service remained a mystery to me, as did that of the communists. Maybe Greene has done this on purpose, but it confused me a great deal at times.
Some plot turns in the end might have resulted in me giving this book a 3 star rating after all, but as it's an open ending and the reader knows nothing about what will happen to any of the characters, this spoilt the fun for me again.
I guess others might like this book, but it's simply not for me.
paul_cornelius's review against another edition
3.0
In this novel, it seems that Greene emphasizes its protagonist's (Castle) ever building frustration with confinement. This is true whether it be his past, his childhood or time in South Africa, his marriage, his mother, or his sense of debt to someone who once helped his African wife escape the apartheid authorities. But wherever he run, the walls simply close in further. Finally, at the end, in Moscow, his world has become so small and barren that he is only left to face himself in the mirror. Alone and defeated.
On one side note: the fate of Buller was immensely satisfying.
On one side note: the fate of Buller was immensely satisfying.
ronanmcd's review against another edition
5.0
An engrossing espionage thriller in the middle of the cold war.
Is the greater morality in being obedient to the laws and rules of a system that's cruel or in aiding those who go against it? The anti-hero helps the Russians as they go against apartheid south Africa. In doing so he abandons the UK and their support for South Africa as a nuclear power. But Castle is just a cog in the machine and despite his protestations and setting his boundaries, he is dragged deeper.
He interestingly sees British security as a nationalist concern with no internationalist outlook. This written as Britain entered the EEU, and with characters who 30 years earlier had defeated fascist nationalism in Europe.
The final paragraphs and their realisation that one's actions can have much wider unintended consequences are a real kicker.
Is the greater morality in being obedient to the laws and rules of a system that's cruel or in aiding those who go against it? The anti-hero helps the Russians as they go against apartheid south Africa. In doing so he abandons the UK and their support for South Africa as a nuclear power. But Castle is just a cog in the machine and despite his protestations and setting his boundaries, he is dragged deeper.
He interestingly sees British security as a nationalist concern with no internationalist outlook. This written as Britain entered the EEU, and with characters who 30 years earlier had defeated fascist nationalism in Europe.
The final paragraphs and their realisation that one's actions can have much wider unintended consequences are a real kicker.