mass market paperback
English language
Published July 12, 1979 by Ballantine Books.
Len Deighton's classic first novel, whoseprotagonist is a nameless spy – later christened Harry Palmer and made famous worldwide in the iconic 1960s film starring Michael Caine.The Ipcress File was not only Len Deighton's first novel, it was his first bestseller and the book that broke the mould of thriller writing.For the working class narrator, an apparently straightforward mission to find a missing biochemist becomes a journey to the heart of a dark and deadly conspiracy.The film of The Ipcress File gave Michael Caine one of his first and still most celebrated starring roles, while the novel itself has become a classic.
Harry Palmer is transferred from British military intelligence to another shadowy department. And pretty much everything that happened between then and the big explanation at the end was too confusing.
There's a kidnapping in Lebanon. A visit to an American Pacific island military base. Some running around London. And lots and lots of coffee, tea, and genteel drinks. None of it making any sense at the time.
I enjoyed the light hearted tone. The book is full of wordy descriptions but they’re quite entertaining. On the down side; it is quite a confusing book and things just seem to happen to the protagonist without him having much agency until the end
