This story, told almost entirely in flashbacks, had a middle section that was too long for me. The rest is a mystery of sorts, and went well enough. The long middle section was a triangle between Fowler (Europe) and Pyle (American) over Phuong (Vietnam), and I see the allegory of the current and approaching wars. It's just that it seemed to drag.

At the time of release, it was seen as Anti-American, but that doesn't fit. It is one of Graham Greene's serious novels, as opposed to his Entertainments (i.e. Our Man in Havana). I have not seen the movie, though I understand the Michael Caine/Brendan Fraser film is far better than the earlier one.

In summary, I rate this 3 stars, and may revisit that after exploring another of his works.