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The Power and the Glory
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The Power and the Glory (1940) (edit title/settings)

by Graham Greene (Author) (edit contributors)

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In a poor, remote section of southern Mexico, the Red Shirts have taken control. God has been outlawed, and the priests have been systematically hunted down and killed. Now, the last priest strives to overcome physical and moral cowardice in order to find redemption. Introduction by John... read more

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This novel was about a Roman Catholic priest, known as the “Whisky Priest”, in the state of Tabasco, Mexico during the 1930’s. During those times the Catholic Church was being suppressed by communist and socialist rule around the world. Plutarco Elías Calles was one of these leaders and he... read more (warning: may contain spoilers)

This novel was about a Roman Catholic priest, known as the “Whisky Priest”, in the state of Tabasco, Mexico during the 1930’s. During those times the Catholic Church was being suppressed by communist and socialist rule around the world. Plutarco Elías Calles was one of these leaders and he controlled the Mexican government. The priest is trying to tend to the people by giving the sacrament and hearing confessions in defiance of his fear of being caught and shot.

The story is about a Roman Catholic priest, known as the “Whiskey Priest”, who arrives in the state of Tabasco, in Mexico, where Catholicism is outlawed. The priest is trying to cater to the people the best he can. He is the only remaining Roman Catholic priest in Tabasco. Another man, known as “The Lieutenant”, strongly dislikes the church, thinks everyone in the clergy is corrupt and evil. He is out on a mission to hunt the priest down.

The priest has a few skeletons in his closet, for example, the fact that he fathered a kid back when he was younger. He lets his past haunt him, and it destroys him on the inside, as well as his dignity. He met the kid that he fathered and felt a strong love for her and made the decision to do every little thing in his aptitude to rescue her from condemnation. The priest comes across a mestizo in the course of his journey. He comes to find out that the mestizo is a Benedict Arnold (Backstabber) later on.

The priest is the main charachter of the novel. As a fugative and being the last priest in the Mexican state of Tabasco, he will be executed if caught by police. He is an alcoholic, despised by his own conscience, and on a self-destructive path, due to his sins and past mistakes. His past haunts him and greatly affects the way he views kife on a day to day basis. He fathered a child in his younger years. He also had an affair with a girl named maria. He recently met up with them. Seeing his daughter made something in him change. He grew more courageous and made it a point that he will do anything to save his daughter from damnation. Reluctant at times, he still gave sacrament and listened to confessions, even with the fact that he will be killed if he is caught. He starts to accept the fact that he sinned in the past, but he starts to understand that he will be forgiven by God.

The theme to this novel is very clear and straight forward. There's a big hint of what the theme may be about in the title. The title of the novel, "The Power and the Glory" is an excerpt from the Lord's Prayer. "for thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, forever and ever, Amen". Religion, spiritual being, willpower, determination, personal courage, and loyalty are all traits that were shown through out the novel.

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Quotes edit see section history

  • “There is always one moment in childhood when the door opens and lets the future in.”
  • “Why, after all, should we expect God to punish the innocent with more life?”

First Sentence edit see section history

Mr. Tench went out to look for his ether cylinder, into the blazing Mexican sun and the bleaching dust.

Series & Lists edit see section history

This book is in TIME Magazine Top 100 English-Language Novels. (community list)
This is book 73 of 97 in Waterstone's Top 100 Books of the 20th Century. (authoritative list)
This is book 589 of 1286 in 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die. (authoritative list)
This book is in Guardian 1000 Novels Everyone Must Read. (authoritative list)

Authors & Contributors edit see section history

  1. Graham Greene (Author)

First Edition edit see section history

Original Language: English
Publisher: Penguin
Country: Great Britain
Publication Date: 1940
ISBN: N/A
Page Count: 216

Classification edit see section history

  • Library of Congress: PR6013.R44 P6
  • Dewey: 823.912

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