Shelfari: The Site for Books & ReadersShelfari Logo

The Heart of the Matter: (Penguin Classics Deluxe Edition)
 

The Heart of the Matter: (Penguin Classics Deluxe Edition) (Penguin Classics Deluxe Editio)

by Graham Greene


Scobie, a police officer serving in a war-time West African state, is distrusted, being scrupulously honest and immune to bribery. But then he falls in love, and in doing so is forced to betray everything he believes in, with tragic consequences.
(read review)

Top tags: fiction,  africa,  graham greene,  british,  religion (all tags)

Readers

Groups

Other Reviews

Amazon Reviews (5)
 

Most Helpful Reviews

Liked It

Bhupash
  • Rated 4 stars

“A truly mesmerizing yarn about betrayal and guilt (would you believe). One of several Greene novels set in Africa and abounding with stock characters, ageing diplomat-come-hero; morally ambiguous co-conspirators; mad, gossipy English folk. The Heart of the Matter seems to combine some of the best bits of Greene's earlier 'Entertainment's with all the brooding sensibilities of his best literary efforts.”

Bhupash’s full review »
more reviews »

Didn’t Like It

emberglow
  • Rated 2 stars

“Did not like it: depressing and pointless. The other Greene book 'End of Affair' is ok if you want introduction to Graham Greene. Another thing that annoys me about novels written before, say 1980s, is that how they sound so crippled and gagged when they wish to describe sex, sexual affairs. Everything is told through innuendos, euphemism, symbols and whispers. Borring! And because of this style, clarity is also an issue. You don't really know if ''adulterers'' were really fucking each...”

emberglow’s full review »
more reviews »
Community:
  • Rated 4.241935 stars
Amazon:
  • Rated 4.5 stars
  

Newest Comments

  • moi p

    moi p said:

    “I SINCERLY LOVE, & THIS IS THE HEART OF THE MATTER.
    (The inner struggle of a person who is willing to understand everything in the name of LOVE. but sometimes matters goes too far,too complicated,too ugly, too unexplicable...
    WISHFULL THINKING!?!, I ALWAYS HOPE FOR A HAPPY ENDING!”

    posted Tuesday, February 5 2008
  • aspicco

    aspicco said:

    “Even if you like Graham Greene's writing (and I love it) I would not start someone with this book. It is an "interior" novel, as most of what occurs transpires inside the heart & soul & mind of the main character as he wrestles with God and his own feelings. There is little action. But, if this sounds like an interesting read to you, go for it. As always, Greene brings excellent writing and observations to the topic, and it is heart-wrenching, ultimately sad and leaves you feeling a litte desparate. But it is remarkably well written.”

    posted Friday, November 2 2007
© 2008 Tastemakers, Inc. | Portions of Shelfari.com are Copyright © 1996-2008 Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy | Copyright Policy