Quote:
Originally Posted by Victoria
I finished the book just before posting. In thinking more, I felt Greene himself was the real protagonist, and the book was primarily about the nature of people’s religious experience, which he sells a bit short. I found him to be rather reductionist in his treatment of all relationships, but the ideas are engaging.
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Indeed, Greene does seem to have been the real protagonist. The dedication of the book is to "C", a married woman called Catherine (I forget her surname) with whom Greene had a long affair.
The book is also described as one of his Catholic novels. I understand he had converted to Catholicism when he married, but that he described himself as a Catholic agnostic because clearly he struggled with the teachings of the church.
I can't agree that the people are caricatures, which suggests they are simplified sketches. I think the characters are rounded and nuanced. They might not be likeable, but for me they are convincing as real people.