Ashenden, or The British Agent

The height of World War I. Fierce fighting is ongoing on the fronts, while a secret confrontation between European intelligence agencies unfolds in the rear, into which a writer, recruited by the British secret service, becomes involved. Ashenden is the perfect candidate for intelligence work; he is observant, calm, and appears harmless, speaks several European languages, and his profession can serve as ideal cover. Changing one disguise for another, without attracting attention, Ashenden visits different countries, gathers and transmits information, accompanies and recruits agents. He observes the beginning, sometimes the middle, or the end of a secret operation, but almost never knows the whole story.