The End of the Affair

Perhaps his greatest book

Greene is a skillful writer. All of his books are dealing with the human situation, yet they never become boring. The particular book, utilizes the noir and adventurous style of previous books such as " A gun for sale", "Stamboul train" and "Brighton Rock" as well as the religious pathos of "The power and the glory", this time in order to enhance a love story. The religious issue, that marked this book as one of his catholic novels, is in fact a brilliant way to explore, once more, the human condition and faith of all sorts. The first person narration, by Bendrix, a writer , is so vivid that the reader often wonders if this is a true story disguised as a novel. The book ends magnificently, leaving the impression that there are two endings, a few pages apart. The book, regained in sales after a movie based on it, was filmed in 1999. Unfortunately, eventhough the script follows the main plot of the book and is solid as a movie, it fails to capture the deeper meanings.
Not only one of Greene's greatest novels, but one of the best of the last century.

Beautifully sad and sweet

This is very good. The quality of the writing is excellent, the story interesting and the character of Sarah well developed. Somehow I felt like I knew her intimately by the end of the novel, but not the men, not really. I did care about all three people caught up in the unique sort of friendly but sad love triangle. I myself would have loved poor Henry, he seemed so sweet and lovable. Maurice, the lover of Sarah just wasn't my type. He seemed so angry and selfish and jealous that it was hard to like him. I identified with poor doomed Sarah quite alot, but I suspect most anyone would on some level-she was so very human. A beautiful book I might actually read again

Surprising

Graham Greene is truly a great author, in my opinion. He clearly stands in the male position, yet speaks only for himself. Those who agree or disagree are left to do so in light of Greene's affirmations. He probably was not as clear with himself as he was with his characters, which allows the reader to identify with him even more.
I enjoy his perspective and suspect others will as well. But not all others.

?Man has places in his heart which do not yet exist, and into them enters suffering in order that they may have existence.? ~ Leon Bloy

So begins The End of the Affair, Graham Greene?s masterpiece of literature; on a note of deep suffering. Maurice Bendrix is an emotionally and spiritually ruined man looking for an answer to why Sarah, his married lover, left him, and who she left him for. When he steals her diary to find out, he discovers that she left him to keep a promise to a God she didn?t believe in. His confusion mounts as he races against time to try and take her back again.

This is a beautiful story told against the backdrop of World War II. It focuses on two loves; the sensual love between a man and a woman, and the higher love between a person and God. Greene shows how the second love, when discovered, does not annihilate the first, but deepens and perfects it.

I would highly recommend this book for mature readers; late high school and up.