The Human Factor (Unabridged) Audiobook, by Graham Greene Play Audiobook Sample

The Human Factor Audiobook (Unabridged)

The Human Factor (Unabridged) Audiobook, by Graham Greene Play Audiobook Sample
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Read By: Tim Pigott-Smith Publisher: AudioGO Listen Time: at 1.0x Speed 6.33 hours at 1.5x Speed 4.75 hours at 2.0x Speed Release Date: March 2009 Format: Unabridged Audiobook ISBN:

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Publisher Description

When a leak is traced back to a small sub-section of SIS, it sparks off security checks, tensions and suspicions - the sort of atmosphere where mistakes could be made. This novel opens up the lonely, isolated, neurotic world of the Secret Service.

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"In The Human Factor, Graham Greene takes a close look at human relationships and motivations. He captures personality and interactions with a compassionate, understanding eye, managing to write about the mundanities of life while also weaving a heartbreaking story of treachery and lies. If you are looking for spy novels with car chases and sex then look to another author. But if you would like to read beautiful and terrible stories of life in the secret side of the civil service then reach for a Graham Greene novel."

— Maythe (5 out of 5 stars)

The Human Factor (Unabridged) Listener Reviews

Overall Performance: 3.81818181818182 out of 53.81818181818182 out of 53.81818181818182 out of 53.81818181818182 out of 53.81818181818182 out of 5 (3.82)
5 Stars: 5
4 Stars: 18
3 Stars: 9
2 Stars: 1
1 Stars: 0
Narration: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 (0.00)
5 Stars: 0
4 Stars: 0
3 Stars: 0
2 Stars: 0
1 Stars: 0
Story: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 (0.00)
5 Stars: 0
4 Stars: 0
3 Stars: 0
2 Stars: 0
1 Stars: 0
Write a Review
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " Not my favorite Graham Greene novel, but still, it's Graham Greene and has some of his trademarks. I liked the black humor of Our Man in Havana and the creepiness of Brighton Rock. Next on my list is The Power and the Glory. Worth your time if you're a devotee. "

    — Melinda, 2/20/2014
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " Read the master of mystery writers who can wring suspense from the internal world of a character in the midst of a moral dilemma. "

    — Lee, 2/8/2014
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Classic Graham Greene stuff. The double agent who is never too sure whom he can or cannot trust (including himself). Paints a very lonely and isolating picture of the "intelligence" game. The question of trust becomes paramount though it would seem as the world becomes more complex and layered the question of absolute trust is moot. More cerebral than his earlier (from the 1930's) secret agent "entertainments" and more disenchanting. "

    — Jon, 2/1/2014
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " i think that the author is emphasing how socialism has influenced on our society "

    — Gabriela, 1/26/2014
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Loved this book, I would recommend sticking with it, it is a bit of a slow starter but then Greene has you and builds to an amazing conclusion, amazing stuff. "

    — Kieran, 1/26/2014
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " This is everything you'd expect from a good spy novel: it is a page turner and the suspense slowly builds as it develops. What was really good about it though was the sense of paranoia and weariness in it. "

    — Paul, 1/13/2014
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " Intriguing, well-drawn, ultimately Graham Greene-ish, but ultimately putdownable. "

    — doug, 12/7/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " i love graham greene: he's so dark! even the dog has to suffer a cruel, agonizing death. "

    — Kimi, 11/16/2013
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " My first Greene novel, and I remember not being all that impressed. But now that I'm older, I'd like to give it another try. "

    — Steve, 11/12/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " I really enjoyed this book. It is slow going but never dull and the ending is quite unexpected. A very interesting and atypical Cold War spy novel. "

    — Paul, 10/27/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Not like any other spy novel...really makes you wonder what could deserve your loyalty, hoe close could we be to true values, where the treason really begins and where it ends....and does it really matter?... "

    — Andreea, 10/9/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " An English espionage tale with deeper themes of love, allegiance, and prejudice intelaced. Truly well-done. "

    — Geoffrey, 10/8/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Great international espionage at its subtle finest - understated yet heart-throbbing, which is a British trademark! "

    — Denise, 10/4/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " The most domestic, least-sexy spy novel ever. Tense, personal, and real. I loved it. "

    — Carl, 5/31/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " I love Graham Greene. I almost wish I hadn't read the foreword first - it meant that I knew major plot points before the narrative got to them. Castle's a great, very believable character. "

    — Melissa, 5/8/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Classy book - properly understated "

    — Stuart, 3/26/2012
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Pretty much the anti-James Bond. Nothing much happens. And who is it that truly deserves your loyalty? "

    — Aras, 11/27/2011
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " Why do I keep reading mediocre Graham Greene spy books? They're like a worn coat -- vaguely out of date, a bit socially embarrassing, mildly irritating, and yet somehow comfortable and comforting. "

    — gaby, 11/5/2011
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " One of the best Graham Green novel's I've read. Without spoiling the suspense, just about the perfect grim and drab spy novel. "

    — josie, 7/11/2011
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " Even better the second time around. "

    — Cynthia, 6/15/2011
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " Greene was a master of literature but I often found his spy novels were good, but not great. This is moreso because I am not a spy novel fan. Having said this, knowing his background in the British Service, he knows what he is doing. "

    — David, 4/30/2011
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " Read the master of mystery writers who can wring suspense from the internal world of a character in the midst of a moral dilemma. "

    — Lee, 4/4/2011
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Belongs in the canon of espionage literature for revealing, as the best espionage fiction usually does, the moral bankruptcy of both sides in the Cold War. "

    — Marty, 3/18/2011
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Understated (as most of Greene) spy novel. Characters well defined although physical descriptions sketchy. Enjoyed this. "

    — Mary, 3/3/2011
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5

    " This is a pastiche of better novels, many of them by the same author. If you're interested in a decent man compromising himself for the ones he loves, read The Heart of the Matter. If you want a story of an alcoholic traitor, read The Spy Who Came in from the Cold. "

    — Phil, 2/10/2011
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " A superb tale of espionage, love and the loneliness which accompanies secrets. It's a highly readable work which draws you along the twists and turns of the ordinary life of a double agent. For those who are looking for a James Bond type tale, you will be dejected. "

    — Zach, 12/5/2010
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " i think that the author is emphasing how socialism has influenced on our society "

    — Gabriela, 9/23/2010
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " ok. British spy novel written during the cold war, interesting perspective. "

    — Ruth, 9/4/2010
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " First Graham Greene book I ever read. Fantastic. I was riveted. And it was funny too. "

    — Sara, 8/25/2010
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Anyone that loves the craft of a spy novel must read Graham Greene. Greene and Joseph Conrad were two of the best spy novelists out there. "

    — Mark, 8/10/2010
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Not among his very best--it's sparer--but still quite good. Anxiety-producing. "

    — Jessica, 6/7/2010
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Not like any other spy novel...really makes you wonder what could deserve your loyalty, hoe close could we be to true values, where the treason really begins and where it ends....and does it really matter?... "

    — Andreea, 5/31/2010
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " My first Greene novel, and I remember not being all that impressed. But now that I'm older, I'd like to give it another try. "

    — Steve, 5/1/2010

About Graham Greene

Graham Greene (1904–1991) was an English novelist, short-story writer, and playwright. He served with the British secret service during the Second World War. His novels are often set in places in a state of seedy decay, and many of his locations, such as Vietnam in The Quiet American and Cuba in Our Man in Havana, became international crisis spots. Most of his novels have been filmed, including The Third Man, which the author first wrote as a film treatment. He was named Companion of Honour and received the Order of Merit, among numerous other awards.

About Tim Pigott-Smith

Tim Pigott-Smith is an award-winning English actor of film, television, and stage and an audiobook narrator. He has narrated several notable television documentaries, including Crimes That Shook the World. He has won two AudioFile Earphones Awards, for The Honorary Consul by Graham Greene and The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoyesvky. He was a three-time finalist for the 2006 Audie Award for Best Original Work for the three-part Eyewitness series by Joanna Burke. His film career includes roles in major motion pictures, including V for Vendetta, Quantum of Solace, The Remains of the Day, Gangs of New York, and more. His numerous television credits include Downton Abbey, The Jewel in the Crown, and North and South. He is also a noted radio actor, appearing in many productions on BBC Radio 4, and a regular stage actor in Shakespearean and Greek roles.