Our Man in Havana by Graham Greene. Summary of the book.

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Our Man in Havana by Graham Greene

Our Man in Havana is a novel by British author Graham Greene, first published in 1958. Set in Cuba during the Cold War, the novel follows the exploits of James Wormold, a vacuum cleaner salesman who is secretly recruited by the British Secret Service to act as an agent in Havana. It is a classic spy thriller, replete with political intrigue, double agents, and moral ambiguity.

Plot Summary

The novel centers around James Wormold, a British expatriate living in Havana, Cuba. Wormold is a former engineer who now works as a vacuum cleaner salesman. In order to supplement his income, he is recruited by Hawthorne, a British Secret Service agent, to become a spy. Wormold is initially reluctant but eventually accepts the offer, becoming a double agent: he is officially working for the British, but is secretly providing information to the Cubans. Wormold begins to invent information and provide false information to both sides in order to keep them appeased and ensure his own safety.

Wormold’s activities eventually lead him into a web of intrigue and danger. He is pursued by the Cuban secret police, begins to develop feelings for two women, and finds himself entangled in the larger political conflicts of the Cold War. In the end, Wormold is able to extricate himself from the situation, but not without suffering several physical and psychological wounds.

Themes

The novel explores the themes of morality, loyalty, and power. Wormold struggles to reconcile his loyalty to both the British and the Cuban sides, and is forced to make difficult decisions about whom to trust and whom to betray. Through Wormold, Greene examines the power dynamics of the Cold War, and the moral ambiguity of espionage. Wormold is an average man thrust into extraordinary circumstances, and Greene paints a vivid picture of the psychological toll such an experience can take.

Interesting Facts

  • Our Man in Havana was adapted into a film in 1959, starring Alec Guinness and directed by Carol Reed.
  • Greene based the novel on his own experiences living in Cuba in the 1950s.
  • The novel is seen as a precursor to the spy thrillers of the 1960s, such as the James Bond series.
  • Greene wrote the novel in three weeks.

FAQs

Q: Who wrote Our Man in Havana?

A: Our Man in Havana was written by British author Graham Greene.

Q: When was Our Man in Havana published?

A: Our Man in Havana was first published in 1958.

Q: What is the plot of Our Man in Havana?

A: The novel centers around James Wormold, a British expatriate living in Havana, Cuba. Wormold is a former engineer who now works as a vacuum cleaner salesman. In order to supplement his income, he is recruited by Hawthorne, a British Secret Service agent, to become a spy. Wormold is initially reluctant but eventually accepts the offer, becoming a double agent: he is officially working for the British, but is secretly providing information to the Cubans. Wormold’s activities eventually lead him into a web of intrigue and danger.

Q: What themes does Our Man in Havana explore?

A: The novel explores the themes of morality, loyalty, and power. Wormold struggles to reconcile his loyalty to both the British and the Cuban sides, and is forced to make difficult decisions about whom to trust and whom to betray. Through Wormold, Greene examines the power dynamics of the Cold War, and the moral ambiguity of espionage.

Q: Was Our Man in Havana adapted into a film?

A: Yes, Our Man in Havana was adapted into a film in 1959, starring Alec Guinness and directed by Carol Reed.

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