A first-person memoir recounts the author's early life and lengthy career in clandestine service, tracing recruitment, undercover work, and the practical and moral challenges of spying. It describes infiltration of subversive organizations, intelligence-gathering techniques, close encounters, betrayals, and the tensions between duty and conscience. Personal motivations, hardships, and scant material rewards are reflected on alongside specific episodes and documents, while portraits and facsimiles supplement the narrative. The account aims to present an unvarnished, truthful record of the author's experiences and the responsibilities and consequences of long-term secret-service work.