Len Deighton’s classic firstnovel, whose protagonist is a nameless spy – later christened Harry Palmer andmade famous worldwide in the iconic 1960s film starring Michael Caine

A high-ranking scientist has beenkidnapped, and a secret British intelligence agency must find out why. But asthe quarry is pursued from grimy Soho to the other side of the world, whatseemed a straightforward mission turns into something far more sinister. Withits sardonic, cool, working-class hero, Len Deighton's sensational debut TheIpcress File broke the mold of thriller writing and became thedefining novel of 1960's London.