The Power and the Glory
One of Greene’s most powerful novels, the book takes as its theme the era of religious suppression in Mexico during the early 1930’s. An unnamed Catholic priest, an alcoholic with a shameful past in search of either oblivion or redemption, travels through Mexico administering the rites of the church to the poor landless peasants, hunted by a remorseless police officer and always in fear of being betrayed by those he is attempting to help.
Stats for nerds
7recommend
14mentions
13people
2009–2025years
50% recommend50% neutral
Mentions per year
What Hacker News says
- That was a lengthy, but nice article/review about someone that I didn't know of before.
Not strictly similar, but this brings to my mind Graham Greene's masterpiece, The Power and the Glory, and his 'whisky priest'. Easily one of the best novels that I've ever read, so highly recommended to give it a look.
- The power and the glory by Graham Greene. Crime and punishment by Dostoevsky.
- Many people have a book they read in their teens that changed their outlook. For some it's 1984. For me it was Greene's "The Power and the Glory". It, and the questions it raised, are still with me.
Monsignor Quixote I can also recommend. The others I read I have forgotten, except for Brighton Rock which I didn't like.
As a sibling commenter has said, if you have any form of religious background or have seen that world, his books speak with a depth I think it would be difficult to grasp without that.
- I mean, if you want to know about the inner workings of Graham Greene's life, you're probably better off just reading his novels (the dividing line between his serious novels and his entertainments isn't as clear-cut as he made out).
Some personal favourites:
England Made Me: Interestingly enough for a novel written in 1935, about multinationals.
Brighton Rock: A vicious little tale of a small-town thug.
The Power and The Glory: A very, very catholic novel, but also a cracking thriller.
The End of the Affair: Another very catholic novel, but also very different.
The Quiet American: Hard to express exactly how good this one is. Vietnam, spies, and a huge indictment of "decent people".
Monsignor Quixote: Life after fascism, and a ridiculous priest who may, in fact, be a saint.
- It's a powerful book, I certainly recommend it. Also his book about a priest on the run in Mexico, the Power and the Glory. He's truly a great author and teller of strong stories.
- Just about any Graham Greene book: The Power and the Glory. The Quiet American, The Ministry of Fear, The Comedians, Our Man in Havana etc.
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