This was an ok spy story, but good enought to be one of the books on the list of 1001 books to read before you die?? This bothered me enough to pull out the 1001 book to see why this one was chosen. The reason it gives, is that this book elevates itself from the usual thriller because the spy is betrayed by his own country. Isn't it sad that in 1963 when this book was written that the concept of your own country abandoning you is so unusual that everyone should read this book? Yikes - we've become pretty cynical...