The Human Factor (1978) by Graham Greene, published by the Franklin Library, is a masterful Cold War espionage novel that prioritizes moral ambiguity over action. The story follows Maurice Castle, a middle-aged MI6 agent who leaks low-level intelligence to the Soviets not for ideology, but out of gratitude to a communist who saved his African wife during apartheid. When a mole hunt begins, Castle’s quiet life unravels, exposing the personal costs of loyalty and betrayal.
Greene’s spare, melancholic prose dissects bureaucracy’s dehumanizing grip, with nods to his own spy experiences. The Franklin Library edition—full leather, gilt-stamped—elevates this introspective thriller into a collector’s gem.
A lesser-known Greene but a profound meditation on the “human factor” in systems of power.
