Graham Greene

BadBoyBenny · #1 04-17-2006, 11:31 PM

I am looking for a new author to start reading, and I have seen references to his novels in a lot of other stuff I have read. His books and style sound interesting to me. Does anyone like his books? Any recommendations on what to start with?

Dominic · #2 04-17-2006, 11:36 PM

Awesome writer! You really can't go wrong with anything he's written...Our Man in Havana...The Comedians...The End of the Affair...The Honorary Consul...The Third Man...

can't go wrong with these...

Anacardo · #3 04-17-2006, 11:38 PM

The Power and the Glory is incredible.

BadBoyBenny · #4 04-17-2006, 11:57 PM

I plan on getting 2-3 of these given the responses so far. Is the collected short stories worth getting, or should I stick to the novels?

BretWeir · #5 04-17-2006, 11:43 PM

Great author; started reading him about a year ago and am through about half a dozen of his books. The Power & the Glory, The Comedians, Ministry of Fear and Our Man in Havana are all excellent.

If you want to start with something kind of light, check out The Third Man -- it's a short novel/long short story. (Actually, it was a screenplay treatment, but the book's as good as the movie, which is also great.)

wet work · #6 04-17-2006, 11:46 PM

I've only read The Quiet American but have been meaning to read more.

ofwolves · #7 04-18-2006, 12:03 AM

I read Brighton Rock, it was OK. It was his first book though, maybe the ones Dom suggests would be better.

W. Deranged · #8 04-18-2006, 12:13 AM

Graham Greene is the [censored]. He has wonderful range: from super-serious (The Power and the Glory) to very light (Our Man in Havana, Travels with my Aunt) and in between (The Human Factor)...

I've loved all four of those, and highly recommend you read him.

If you like his spy fiction, consider also Joseph Conrad's "Secret Agent" and the ouevre of John le Carre (start with "The Spy who Came in from the Cold). It's cool to compare how the three deal with some similar themes across different contexts...

bobman0330 · #9 04-18-2006, 12:17 AM

WD is right as always. Greene is my favorite author. The Power and the Glory and The End of the Affair are both flat-out amazing. I would read End of the Affair first, because it's shortish and very compelling.

In addition to everything mentioned above, The Heart of the Matter is fantastic.

scrub · #10 04-18-2006, 12:27 AM

[ QUOTE ]
I am looking for a new author to start reading, and I have seen references to his novels in a lot of other stuff I have read. His books and style sound interesting to me. Does anyone like his books? Any recommendations on what to start with?

[/ QUOTE ]

I [img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] him.

I think Brighton Rock is underrated.

scrub