British citizen Alexander Bayliss, was a spy in the Soviet Union in the 1950s until his arrest Presumed dead by the British government he survived 20 years in a labour camp, until freed in the 1970s Having no reason to return to the west, he finds his way to the home of his best friend from the camp and is taken in by his daughter Bayliss becomes a much loved schoolmaster in the village, however by his 80th birthday Russia has changed and information has come to light that he is alive, ending with him having to make a choice Shortlisted for the 1998 Booker Prize