Books, arts and culture

Graham Greene

Fanx for the books

Jul 30th 2010, 21:16 by E.B. | NEW YORK

IN THE current issue of Intelligent Life Nicholas Shakespeare, the author most recently of "Inheritance" (a novel reviewed in last week's paper), considers what makes Graham Greene's voice so distinctive. "Greene’s prose has the clarity of a pane of glass," he writes, "yet it creates an air of menace, almost an airlessness, which intensifies the drama."

Mr Shakespeare, who wrote the introduction to the Vintage edition of "The Honorary Consul" (a book he says here was Greene's favourite), suggests that Greene's power is in his concision: "he wrote novels of about 80,000 words, which you can read and digest in a sitting, getting back to the unitary power of drama." (The modest size of Greene's books makes them perfect for those classic little Penguin editions that fit on one's person.)

The man could tell a good story, smart and nervy. His heroes are complicated, but readers are spared long stretches trapped in their thoughts. Instead we get to judge their actions. "The Quiet American" and "The End of the Affair" are essential reading, full of voice and momentum. And Greene had an excellent ear for the oddities of speech, particularly among oddball men. Many years after reading "Brighton Rock", I still think of Pinkie—that weird little cuss, that endearingly neurotic, pimply sadist. Sometimes I sign off an e-mail "fanx" and think of him, with dirty fingernails, drinking a white tea somewhere damp.

(Image: jonathan229 via Flickr)

Readers' comments

The Economist welcomes your views. Please stay on topic and be respectful of other readers. Review our comments policy.

Sort:

a rolling stone Jul 31st 2010 12:51 GMT

As someone who has read and respected Greene's books for many years, but not read enough of him, there comes across a certain loneliness, wracked by guilt and confusion, depicted through the actions of the hero/anti-hero. And yet there is a stoicism and hope. My favourite Greene books are Monsignor Quixote and The Power and the Glory.

About Prospero

Named after the hero of Shakespeare's "The Tempest", an expert on the power of books and the arts, this blog features literary insight and cultural commentary from our correspondents, and includes our coverage of the art market.