Love and War in Indo-China

I've seen filmed version of this book several times, but, after listening to this audio version, think the book is better. Not least because the main character, Fowler, a middle-aged foreign correspondent engages in much introspection that is difficult to depict in a film. Fowler is a typical Greene character: world weary, melancholy, with a young mistress and wife at a distance. The latter a devout Catholic which introduces ruminations about God and religion: common topics in Greene's more serious books.

Fowler is on a journalistic assignment reporting the Vietnam War. He has been living with a pragmatic young local woman for some time when he meets, Pyle, the American of the title whose official role is rather hazy but seems to have a have a hidden agenda to promote a Third Force in the area.

Fowler and Pyle surprisingly become friends and a section of the book describes a hair-raising trip they do together into the North of the country. Their friendship is strained by Pyle's desire to marry Fowler's mistress.

The story starts with the death of, Pyle, and switches back and forth in time to reveal by the end, how and why he died. On the way a number of well-rounded characters play their parts against the back-drop of the Vietnam War. There's intrigue, corruption, violence and love: a heady mixture that makes for an exciting, but sad story.

The reader of the book is excellent

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50 people found this helpful

Tres atmospherique!

...pardon my French🤭
Had many elements of The Third Man but not sufficient to draw comparisons too often. Simon Cadell read beautifully though the volume did wax and wane, more often towards the end, but not enough to spoil the experience.

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Brilliant

Simon Caddell reads this book to perfection. As for the story— it’s the usual Greene magic set amongst the sultry backdrop of the Indochina war. Be transported away..

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Greene at his best giving insight as to a key phase of history of Vietnam.

I re-read this book after 40 years during a trip from the north to the south of Vietnam. Enjoyed it just as much. It chimes with what we heard in Vietnam about the “French” war, which preceded the “American” war (which we refer to as the Vietnam war). I love Greene’s honesty about human emotions coupled with fast pace of the story. I got my fellow travellers hooked too and will now re-read his other works.

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a book for everybody !

loved this book the narrator was amazing i couldnt leave it sad it was finished

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5 people found this helpful

Brilliant

Graham Greene was a brilliant writer. His painfully true observations on human motivations, the sharp, though dark and terrifying points he makes about innocence, honesty and good intentions were utterly hair raising - because they were so true. Being a catholic, I am deeply fascinated with his relationship to religion. though I can't say I really understand it. The performance was okay, can't find much fault with it but not very memorable either.

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1 person found this helpful

Great story. Well told.

Good narration of a great story. Accents are good, story has depth and breadth. Would listen to Sinon Cadell again, and more Graham Greene.

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Wonderful story, brilliantly read

Elegant, prophetic, disturbing, depressing.
Without doubt Graham Greene was one of our best novelists and this is book is testament to that, especially as it was one of his later works.

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Marvellous novel First Class reading

This is on of Graham Greene’s best. Simon Cadell is the perfect narrator. Thoroughly recommended.

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One of my favourite books

An excellent story with superb narration by Simon Cadell - recommended.

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4 people found this helpful