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Former library book; Readable copy. Pages may have considerable notes/highlighting. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less Former library book; Readable copy. Pages may have considerable notes/highlighting. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less See less

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The Heart of the Matter Paperback – International Edition, November 2, 2004

by Graham Greene (Author)

4.1 1,463 ratings

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With a new introduction by James Wood

Scobie, a police officer serving in a wartime west-African state, is distrusted — being scrupulously honest and immune to bribery. But then he falls in love, and in so doing, he is forced to betray everything he believes in, with drastic and tragic consequences.

Editorial Reviews

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"A superb storyteller with a gift for provoking controversy."
—New York Times

“Greene had the sharpest eyes for trouble, the finest nose for human weaknesses, and was pitilessly honest in his observations . . . For experience of a whole century he was the man within.”
—Norman Sherry, Independent

About the Author

Graham Greene (1904-1991) worked as a journalist and critic, and was later employed by the foreign office. His many books include The Power and the Glory, The Third Man, Our Man in Havana, The Comedians and Travels with My Aunt. He is the subject of an acclaimed three-volume biography by Norman Sherry.

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ 0099478420
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Vintage Classics; New Ed edition (November 2, 2004)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 272 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9780099478423
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0099478423
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.11 x 0.7 x 7.8 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #3,326,143 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #63,169 in Classic Literature & Fiction

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4.1 1,463 ratings

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Graham Greene

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Henry Graham Greene OM CH (2 October 1904 – 3 April 1991) was an English novelist and author regarded by some as one of the great writers of the 20th century. Combining literary acclaim with widespread popularity, Greene acquired a reputation early in his lifetime as a major writer, both of serious Catholic novels, and of thrillers (or "entertainments" as he termed them). He was shortlisted, in 1967, for the Nobel Prize for Literature. Through 67 years of writings, which included over 25 novels, he explored the ambivalent moral and political issues of the modern world, often through a Catholic perspective.

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Stebbo

This is one of the finest novels of the twentieth century

Reviewed in the United States on August 9, 2015

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This is one of the finest novels of the twentieth century. Style, character and moral complexity raise it to the first rank of novels in the English language. Some have criticised the lead character but I cannot do tis, yes his Catholicism seems to block his development but then it is a deep commitment and those (like me) who cannot share that spiritual view would do well to experience it through his and Greene's astonishing eye.
The book manages to demolish colonialism even as it deals with more profound questions of right and wrong. Giving stars to such a masterpiece demeans it. This is the real thing , it delivers in every category. It might best be described as a dark spiritual thriller. No discerning reader should omit it from their library.

8 people found this helpful

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Burton Adrian

better than most

Reviewed in the United States on March 7, 2024

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Well written. Nice imagery in many places. I enjoyed it because of the west Africa setting and the time period, WW II.
Truthful romance

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Kindle Customer

Killer's review of the Heart of the Mms Tate

Reviewed in the United States on January 20, 2024

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I found the story depressing, dry, "dragged out", and t Iiresome. I did, h o Weber, finish it, kept hoping there would be improvement in my attitude t I ward the story, but, that did not happen.

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jackson

Religion and Morality

Reviewed in the United States on August 17, 2018

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Graham Greene is widely regarded as one of the most influential writers of the twentieth century. The Heart of the Matter is a wonderful example of the depth of his creativity and understanding of the human condition. A deeply religious man, in the truest sense of the word, the main character, Major Scobie, is caught between moral righteousness and religious doctrine; specifically that of the Catholic church. This carefully crafted tale was written more than half a century ago, well before much of the hypocrisy of the Church had been exposed. Actually, the priest in this isolated West African province , is one of the most morally innocent characters in the book. It is the dogma of the church itself and the impact on its victims that is exposed so beautifully and subtly.

The major, caught between his demanding wife and his young ward, is the true victim here. The church's regulations on thought and behavior, leaving nothing to the reason of the believer, is shown in all its emptiness. Major Scobie, the lifelong devout Catholic, is left with only the most hideous of choices in his quest for righteousness.

This carefully crafted novel sneaks up on the reader unless he or she is forewarned. The story could be situated anywhere, but in the barest of civilizations, wonderfully detailed by the author, it is especially poignant. It is certainly one of the most moving and essential pieces of fiction of the last century.

67 people found this helpful

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dmiguer

A Tortured Soul

Reviewed in the United States on September 6, 2023

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“A vulture flapped and shifted on the iron roof and Wilson looked at Scobie. He couldn't tell that this was one of those occasions a man never forgets. A scar had been made on his memory, a wound that would ache whenever certain things combined, the taste of gin at midday, the smell of flowers under a balcony, the clang of corrugated iron, an ugly bird flopping from perch to perch.”

“So much of life was a putting off of unhappiness for another time. Nothing was ever lost by delay. He had a dim idea that perhaps if one delayed long enough things were taken out of one's hands altogether by death.”

“Somewhere in the darkness two rats scuffled. The waterside rats were the size of rabbits. The natives called them pigs and ate them roasted. Their name helped to distinguish them from the wharf rats who were a human breed.”

“There were not many people at the club yet. He switched off his lights and waited for Louise to move, but she just sat there with a clenched fist. 'Well, dear, here we are, he said in the hearty voice strangers took as a mark of stupidity. Louise said 'Do you think they all know by this time?' 'Know what?' ‘That you've been passed over.”

'No use doing it like that, old man. Watch me.’ The cockroach was half-way up the wall, and as he moved on tiptoe across the creaking floor he began to weave the light of his torch backwards and forwards over the cockroach. Then suddenly he struck and left a smear of blood. 'One up, he said. 'You have to mesmerize them.'

“Why, he wondered, swerving the car to avoid a dead dog, do I love this place so much? Is it because here human nature hasn't had time to disguise itself? Nobody here could ever talk about a heaven on earth. Heaven remained in its proper place on the other side of death, and on this side flourished the injustices, the cruelties, the meanness that elsewhere people so cleverly hushed up.”

************

Wilson has just arrived at a colonial city on the west coast of Africa, resembling Freetown in Sierra Leone where Graham Greene worked for MI6 during WWII. From the hotel balcony he spies Scobie, who works for the British police. The town is a polyglot place of Africans, Indians, West Indians, Syrians, French and British. Scobie has lived inside the grimy port for fifteen years, working in a group of government buildings faintly reflecting the grandeur of empire. Nazi submarines patrol the harbor, a haze of heat oppresses the air. Scobie has been passed over to become police commissioner by a younger man.

Scobie lost his bungalow in the European quarter to a senior and occupies a house in the flats, a swampy neighborhood where vultures search through piles of trash. His wife Louise joined him before the war and is unable to return to England. She is unhappy with their status, a Catholic who converted her husband, as Greene had been by his wife. Their young daughter died recently and although he is no longer in love he feels pity for her plight. Louise wants him to quit or retire so she won’t have to suffer the humiliation of his not being promoted, yet Scobie wants to stay on to avoid spending all his time with her.

The officer’s club is full of snobs but Louise hits it off with the newly arrived inspector Wilson, as they both are fans of poetry. Scobie encourages their friendship to distract Louise while he tries to secure her passage to South Africa. When a village policeman commits suicide he goes into the bush to investigate and a local priest is worried over the mortal sin. Greene had long held doubts about how a sinner could be cast out by a loving God. As Louise prepares to leave a sense of guilt shifts to her shoulders. Wilson has fallen in love with her but she resists his advances in spite of having let him kiss her once.

Scobie had borrowed money from Yusef, a black marketeer, in order to pay for Louise’s fare. Wilson, who is angry and vindictive about her leaving, suspects bribery was involved. Scobie begins an affair with Helen, a woman shipwrecked in a naval attack, as Louise unexpectedly returns. Yusef, aware of the affair, begins to blackmail Scobie. Unwilling to break off the relationship he attempts to hide it from her. Without absolution from the Church he receives communion with Louise. In a state of sin he contemplates suicide, perhaps the most deadly sin of all.

After reading three of Greene’s so-called “Catholic” novels, ‘Brighton Rock’, ‘The Power and the Glory’ and ‘The End of the Affair’, this was my least favorite, but not by much. ‘The Heart of the Matter’ is more concerned with Greene’s doubts about religious dogma than the others. Greene was familiar with bouts of depression, suicide attempts and adultery in his personal life. The gloom is pervasive, conveying the mid-20th century squalor and folly of an African colony. Greene wrote vividly about people and places he had experienced as a traveler and a journalist. Later in his life he would describe himself as Catholic agnostic.

************

“The stars on this clear night gave also an impression of remoteness, security, freedom. If one knew the facts, he wondered, would one have to feel pity even for the planets? If one reached what they call the heart of the matter?”

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Ronnie Tyler

Excellent short novel, fine writing.

Reviewed in the United States on August 29, 2018

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I enjoyed this novel much more than I thought I would. Excellent writing, and a quickly moving storyline that kept me interested and anticipating the final outcome. Glad that Graham Greene is now on my reading list, I’ll read more of his books. Good stuff.

3 people found this helpful

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Stephen Wahrhaftig

good period piece

Reviewed in the United States on September 18, 2023

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Somewhat painful but classic Greene. Observant recreation of wartime Africa. People who fail themselves and make the wrong decisions, and a protagonists mist convinced that those decisions have damned him.

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64Born

My third and best Greene to date

Reviewed in the United States on June 9, 2016

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My third and best Greene to date; loved it. GG pulls the reader in effortlessly in that quiet, British, no-thrills way in which he is a true master. I don't think I will ever tire of his writing style; it's like being in the confidence of a close yet slightly dubious friend; warm, exciting yet at times deeply troubling.
I won't bother describing characters/plot - no point; just buy, read and wallow.

8 people found this helpful

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Ajojyde

Good read

Reviewed in Canada on August 15, 2021

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Good read. Captured the conflict of emotions and faith that goes on in the heart of man, how the choices made influences outcomes and the finality of death.

enthusiastic bookworm

Greene at his best. But when is he at his worst?

Reviewed in Germany on April 20, 2021

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As far as the novel goes, "The heart of the matter" is an excellent one: the story is brilliant, as is the style. Greene puts you right in the middle of the white man's grave. He is one of the best narrators there are, with tack-sharp descriptions of the atmosphere in Africa at the time of the second world war. Even if Major Scobie is sort of an anti-hero, one can't but feel for him.

The only thing that disturbed me is the introduction by James Wood. It was completely unnecessary, even downright contra-productive. It is hard to understand, why such a novel would need an introduction at all. But if it does, it could have been one, which doesn't reveal the ending of the book.

So, if you don't know the story, and wouldn't like to rob yourself of the excitement, then just skip the introduction. Because, unfortunately, James Wood cut to the heart of the matter.

One person found this helpful

Vittorio Camilloni

Ottimo libro

Reviewed in Italy on March 16, 2021

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Sembra che la traduzione in italiano non sia più disponibile

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idahunheimonmitre thubru

Five Stars

Reviewed in India on March 17, 2015

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awesome book

andrea benda

tout y est

Reviewed in France on February 16, 2013

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Atmosphère et descrition des personnages dans une Afrique en guerre un peu stylisée mais non sans intérêt.Une histoire d'amour imprévisible dans un monde "blanc" clos

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