A Study in Greene
Graham Greene and the Art of the Novel
Format:Hardback
Publisher:Oxford University Press
Published:7th Sep '06
Currently unavailable, and unfortunately no date known when it will be back
This insightful examination of Graham Greene's work highlights his earlier masterpieces, particularly A Study in Greene, showcasing the author's unique blend of genres.
In A Study in Greene, Bernard Bergonzi delves into the intricate structure and language of Graham Greene's novels, exploring the recurring obsessive motifs that define his literary career. Bergonzi asserts that Greene's earlier works, characterized by a compelling blend of melodrama, realism, and poetry, represent the pinnacle of his creativity. He highlights Brighton Rock, published in 1938, as Greene's masterpiece, a moral fable that intertwines elements of crime fiction with the tragic sensibilities of Jacobean drama.
With years of experience reading Greene, Bergonzi provides a fresh perspective on the author's oeuvre, especially in light of the recent focus on Greene's life. He emphasizes the importance of returning to the texts themselves, offering a comprehensive analysis that spans Greene's career from 1929 to 1988. This critical study not only examines the language and structure of Greene's work but also challenges preconceived notions about his relationship with cinema and seeks to clarify the complexities of his religious themes.
While A Study in Greene engages with academic discussions, it is crafted to be accessible to general readers, making it a valuable resource for both scholars and enthusiasts of Greene's literature. Bergonzi's insights invite readers to appreciate the depth and nuance of Greene's storytelling, encouraging a renewed exploration of his significant contributions to the literary world.
Bergonzi... is to be congratulated for two reasons in particular: first, in refocusing the public eye on Greene's work as apposed to his private private life (he makes it clear, in acidic little asides, that he is no fan of Greene's biographers) and, second, in having the courage to re-imagine this body of work in a way rather different to the currently accepted view. * Catholic Herald *
... gives the reader not only some new highlights into Greene's fiction, but encourages one to go back and read some of it again. * Camden New Journal *
In his introduction, Bernard Bergonzi comments that 'readers should be warned that this is a work of old-fashioned criticism'. Far from being a literary Health Warning, this may serve as a positive recommendation to many... like all good criticism, it will send you scurrying back to the novels. * Newsletter of the Graham Greene Birthplace Trust *
The book is measured, civilized, sympathetic to its subject - as Bergonzi's criticism usually is. It is not adulatory; some rather harsh statements are made; but Bergonzi bases his opinion on reasonable premises and makes no intemperate judgements. * US Weekly Standard *
Any reader who wants a lucid, concise, elegantly written survey of the novels could not do better than turn to A Study in Greene. * David Lodge, The Tablet *
An impressive and provocative book * Literary Review *
Crisply written and happily free of jargon,A Study in Green offers a long-needed antidote to Norman Sherry and other 'Dirty Linen' biographers who have sought to expose a darker shade of Greene and, in consequence, lost sight of the books. Not everyone will agree with Professor Bergonzi's argument, but his book is well worth reading. * Ian Thompson, Spectator *
ISBN: 9780199291021
Dimensions: 210mm x 145mm x 20mm
Weight: 346g
208 pages