The Heart of the Matter
by Graham Greene
Our Price: $5.74
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $2.99 (click here)
Category: Book
See more book details and other editions
Book Summary Information
Author: Graham GreeneEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Format: Import
Published: 2004-11-02
ISBN: 0099478420
Number of pages: 272
Publisher: Vintage Classics
Book Reviews of The Heart of the Matter
Book Review: Worthy of a claim to greatness
Summary: 5 Stars
Over forty years ago a new English teacher at my school answered a question asked by an eager student. The question was, "What do you think is the greatest novel written in English?" He didn't think for very long before replying, "The Heart Of The Matter."
We academically-inclined youths borrowed Graham Greene's novel from the library and eventually conferred. There were shrugs, some indifference, appreciation without enthusiasm. We were all about sixteen years old.
I last re-read The Heart Of The Matter about twenty-five years ago. When I began it again for the fourth time last week, I could still remember vividly the basics of its characters and plot. Henry Scobie is an Assistant Chief of Police in a British West African colony. It is wartime and he has been passed over for promotion. He is fifty-ish, wordly-wise, apparently pragmatic, a sheen that hides a deeply analytical conscience. Louise, his wife is somewhat unfocusedly unhappy with her lot. She is a devout Catholic and this provides her support, but the climate is getting to everyone. She leaves for a break that Scobie cannot really afford. He accepts debt.
The colony's businesses are run by Syrians. Divisions within their community have roots deeper than commercial competition. There is "trade" of many sorts. There are accusations, investigations, rumours and counter-claims. Special people arrive to look into things. There's a suicide, more than one, in fact, at least one murder, an extra-marital affair, blackmail, family and wartime tragedy.
But above all there is the character of Henry Scobie. He is a man of principle who thinks he is a recalcitrant slob. He is a man of conscience who presents a pragmatic face. He makes decisions fully aware of their consequences, but remains apparently unable to influence the circumstance that repeatedly seems to dictate events. He remains utterly honest in his deceit, consistent in his unpredictability. His life becomes a beautiful, uncontrolled mess. His wife's simple orthodox Catholicism contrasts with his never really adopted faith. He tries to keep face, but cannot reconcile the facts of his life with the demands of his conscience. His ideals seem to have no place in a world where interests overrule principle. He sees a solution, a way out, but perhaps it is a dead end.
For twenty-first century sensibilities, the colonial era attitudes towards local people appear patronising at best. Perhaps that is how things were. But The Heart Of The Matter is not really a descriptive work. It is not about place and time. Like a Shakespearean tragedy, the events and their setting provide only a backdrop and context for a deeply moving examination of motive and conscience. And also like a Shakespearean tragedy, the novel transcends any limitations of its setting to say something unquestionably universal about the human condition. Forty years on, I now realise, that my new English teacher was probably right.
Summary of The Heart of the Matter
With a new introduction by James WoodScobie, 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.
Literature & Fiction Books
Book Subjects
- Arts & Photography
- Biographies & Memoirs
- Business & Investing
- Children's Books
- Comics & Graphic Novels
- Computers & Internet
- Cooking, Food & Wine
- Entertainment
- Gay & Lesbian
- Health, Mind & Body
- History
- Home & Garden
- Horror
- Law
- Literature & Fiction
- Mystery & Thrillers
- Nonfiction
- Outdoors & Nature
- Parenting & Families
- Professional & Technical
- Reference
- Religion & Spirituality
- Romance
- Science
- Science Fiction & Fantasy
- Sports
- Teens
- Travel
Most talked about in Literature & Fiction Books
Little Womenby Louisa May Alcott
Scribner; Published: 1986-06-30; Paperback; Book
Best price: $3.49
Price in other shops:
The Killing Groundby JACK HIGGINS
HARPERCOLLINS PUBLISHERS LTD; Published: 2007; Hardcover; Book
Saving Fish from Drowningby Amy Tan
4th Estate; Published: 2005; Paperback; Book
Life Expectancyby Dean Koontz
Harpercollins Pb; Published: 2005-08-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $6.00
Constant Princessby Philippa Gregory
Touchstone/Simon & Schuster; Published: 2005; Hardcover; Book
Wolf of the Plains (Conqueror, Book 1)by Conn Iggulden
Harper; Published: 2007; Paperback; Book
Saharaby Clive Cussler
Harper Collins Pb; Published: 2005-03-21; Paperback; Book
Perelandra (Cosmic Trilogy)by C. S. Lewis
Voyager; Published: 2005-11; Paperback; Book
Best price: $6.79
Price in other shops:
The Lord Of The Rings: Part 2 The Two Towersby J. R. R. Tolkien
Harper Collins Publishers; Published: 2001; Paperback; Book
Red Marsby Kim Stanley Robinson
Trafalgar Square; Published: 2001-06; Paperback; Book
Similar Books and other products
Orient Express (Penguin Classics Deluxe Edition)by Graham Greene
Penguin Classics; Published: 2004-08-31; Paperback; Book
Best price: $4.76
Price in other shops:
Regenerationby Pat Barker
Plume; Published: 1993-07-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $7.67
Price in other shops:
The Man Within My Headby Pico Iyer
Knopf; Published: 2012-01-03; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $15.35
Price in other shops:
Complete Short Stories (Penguin Classics)by Graham Greene
Penguin Classics; Published: 2005-01-25; Paperback; Book
Best price: $10.00
Price in other shops:
The Comedians (Penguin Classics)by Graham Greene
Penguin Classics; Published: 2005-01-25; Paperback; Book
Best price: $8.99
Price in other shops:
Brighton Rock (Penguin Classics Deluxe Edition)by Graham Greene
Penguin Classics; Published: 2004-09-28; Paperback; Book
Best price: $8.00
Price in other shops:
The Quiet American (Penguin Classics Deluxe Edition)by Graham Greene
Penguin Classics; Published: 2004-08-31; Paperback; Book
Best price: $7.75
Price in other shops:
Our Man in Havana (Penguin Classics)by Graham Greene
Penguin Classics; Published: 2007-07-31; Paperback; Book
Best price: $8.52
Price in other shops:
The Power and the Glory (Penguin Classics)by Graham Greene
Penguin Classics; Published: 2003-02-25; Paperback; Book
Best price: $6.96
Price in other shops:
The End of the Affair (Penguin Classics Deluxe Edition)by Graham Greene
Penguin Classics; Published: 2004-08-31; Paperback; Book
Best price: $7.34
Price in other shops: