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The Ipcress File

The Ipcress File

ClassicsEspionage
Pages
272
Published
1962
Language
English

Synopsis

A working-class intelligence officer is tasked with finding a missing biochemist during the height of the Cold War. What starts as a routine investigation quickly spirals into a web of brainwashing and high-level treason. This gritty spy novel stripped away the glamour of the genre, introducing a nameless narrator who relies on his wits to survive a deadly bureaucracy.

Prose complexity
7/10

Vibe

TenseGrittySatiricalAtmospheric
Anti-HeroBetrayalMorally GreySecret Identity

Genres

Classics Espionage Mystery Spy Thriller Historical Fiction Military Suspense Political Thriller

About the author

L
Len Deighton

Len Deighton is a British writer who changed the spy genre with his debut novel, The Ipcress File. He wrote gritty stories about the Cold War and military history that focused on the messy reality of intelligence work. His books are known for their technical detail and realistic characters.

Characters

Harry PalmerProtagonist
All characters in The Ipcress File