DownloadThe Portobello Bookshop Gift Guide 2024

The End of the Affair

A tale of love and obsession during wartime

Graham Greene author Monica Ali editor

Format:Paperback

Publisher:Vintage Publishing

Published:7th Oct '04

Should be back in stock very soon

The End of the Affair cover

In The End of the Affair, a love story unfolds amidst the chaos of war, exploring themes of obsession, jealousy, and the complexities of human relationships.

Set against the backdrop of the London Blitz, The End of the Affair explores the passionate yet tumultuous relationship between Maurice Bendrix and Sarah Miles. Their affair, filled with intensity and longing, takes a sudden turn when Sarah abruptly ends it without explanation, leaving Maurice heartbroken and confused. The war serves as a constant reminder of the fragility of life and love, adding layers of complexity to their connection.

Two years later, fate intervenes as Maurice unexpectedly encounters Sarah again, reigniting his feelings and stirring old wounds. Consumed by jealousy and a desperate need for answers, he hires a private investigator to track her movements. This decision spirals into an obsession that reveals the darker sides of love and desire. As Maurice delves deeper into Sarah's life, he discovers unsettling truths that challenge his understanding of their relationship and the nature of love itself.

The End of the Affair is not just a story of romance; it is a profound exploration of faith, loss, and the impact of war on personal relationships. Through Maurice's journey, the novel delves into the complexities of human emotions and the struggle between passion and reason, making it a timeless tale that resonates with readers across generations.

Singularly beautiful and moving -- Evelyn Waugh
One of the most true and moving novels of my time, in anybody's language * William Faulkner *
In a class by himself...the ultimate chronicler of twentieth-century man's consciousness and anxiety -- William Golding
Devastating study of the collision of different kinds of faith, betrayal and commitment * The Times *
Greene's novel of illicit love captures perfectly the atmosphere of rainy wartime London - try to read this in one sitting if you can * Express *
A deliciously uncomfortable read for anyone who's allowed their heart to rule their head -- Mariella Frostrup * Psychologies *
Passionate, powerful and complex -- Susannah York * Daily Express *
One of our greatest authors - for experience of a whole century he was the man within * Independent *
No serious writer of this century has more thoroughly invaded and shaped the public imagination than did Graham Greene * The Times *
Greene’s classic wartime drama The End of the Affair is no less gripping for its simplicity…this unacceptable love, this devastating outcome. -- Chris Pavone * Big Issue *

ISBN: 9780099478447

Dimensions: 199mm x 129mm x 13mm

Weight: 142g

192 pages