I read this book in High School 20 years before 1984 and saw the Hollywood production with Edmund O'Brien 20 years before 1984 as well. I thought the book and the film to be heavy-handed and highly unlikely to occur. I also found both to be relentlessly depressing. The TV version on Studio One, which preceded the Hollywood version is in the same category, but is a bit better than the Hollywood version. This is due to the romantic chemistry between the leading lady and Eddie Albert, who, by the way, I felt was miscast. Despite the miscasting, the romance was highly believable. The Hollywood version's romance between O'Brien and his leading lady was nowhere nearly as passionate. The book itself was fairly devoid of romantic passion as well, so the screenwriters of the TV production at Studio one successfully spiced it up. Worth viewing.