本书是前东德国家安全部国外情报总局局长，安全部副部长马库斯·沃尔夫的自传体的回忆录，作者以自身的经历尽可能全面讲述了他所知道的事实，全面剖析了其一生成败功过，向他们展示了一个神秘的情报人员的一生。

In 1983 East Berlin, dedicated Stasi officer Gerd Wiesler begins spying on a famous playwright and his actress-lover Christa-Maria. Wiesler becomes unexpectedly sympathetic to the couple, and faces conflicting loyalties when his superior takes a liking to Christa-Maria.