Status
Available
Call number
Collection
Publication
Kbh 1959 207 s. portr. Tranebog T14
Description
Graham Greenes first published novel represented for the author one sentimental gesture towards his own past, the period of ambition and hope. It tells the story of Andrews, a young man who has betrayed his fellow smugglers and fears their vengeance. "The Man Within" offers a foretaste of Greenes recurring theme of religion and the individuals struggles against cynicism and the indifferent forces of a hostile world.
User reviews
LibraryThing member kristykay22
The Man Within is the story of Andrews, a young man who was orphaned after his long-suffering mother died while he was in boarding school, and his hated booze smuggling father was shot on his own ship. Andrews is met at school by the enigmatic Carlyon, his father's first mate who is a stereotypical
The characters are mostly one-dimensional (and their other dimensions are laid on thick), and the dialogue is pretty stilted, but Greene still manages to find some poetry and interest in the life of his cowardly and self-critical protagonist. And, as a person who loves some nice structure, the ending is just about perfect and potentially redeems the rest of the book.
That being said, I can't wait to read some more Greene. I realize that this is an early work and isn't representative. I hear he is great....
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heavy with an unusual romantic side that quickly becomes Andrews' only friend. Andrews joins the smugglers, but later double-crosses them, turns them in to the police, and finds himself on the run from his former friends and the law (which is where the book starts). And that is where he meets the girl -- alone in an isolated cottage with her dead guardian/lover in a coffin on the table.The characters are mostly one-dimensional (and their other dimensions are laid on thick), and the dialogue is pretty stilted, but Greene still manages to find some poetry and interest in the life of his cowardly and self-critical protagonist. And, as a person who loves some nice structure, the ending is just about perfect and potentially redeems the rest of the book.
That being said, I can't wait to read some more Greene. I realize that this is an early work and isn't representative. I hear he is great....
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LibraryThing member PhileasHannay
I read this, Greene's first published novel, because I intend to read all or most of Greene's work, and when I think I'll particularly enjoy an author I try to read their work more or less in order, if possible..
I had to keep telling myself not to hold it against Greene; it was an early work. Not
The protagonist is as obnoxious and foolish as any main character I've encountered for a while, and the female main character wasn't much better. Rather than a tragedy of a great man brought low by a fatal flaw, this is more a story of a bloody idiot brought low by constantly making unbelievably idiotic choices. At times it felt that the foolish choices the main characters made had less to do with who they were than with the author's desire to lead them to the end he'd chosen for them.
I had to keep telling myself not to hold it against Greene; it was an early work. Not
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every great writer is a genius the first day he picks up a pen. The protagonist is as obnoxious and foolish as any main character I've encountered for a while, and the female main character wasn't much better. Rather than a tragedy of a great man brought low by a fatal flaw, this is more a story of a bloody idiot brought low by constantly making unbelievably idiotic choices. At times it felt that the foolish choices the main characters made had less to do with who they were than with the author's desire to lead them to the end he'd chosen for them.
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LibraryThing member mahallett
not bad but of course, really depressing.
LibraryThing member jeffome
St. Barts 2013 #2 - A different book, for sure, slow going in the beginning, yet one that slowly sucked me in allowing me to devour most of it in one afternoon. A unique study of cowardice and the power of conscience - that pesky little voice within. Do we have the necessary moral character to know
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when to seriously pay attention to that voice? This is an odd story where not much happens yet there is much to think about......and a slightly surprising ending for good measure. This will never be an all-time favorite, but no regrets. Show Less
LibraryThing member brakketh
Enjoyable is not quite the right word, I found it brilliant and engaging but feeling some Greene fatigue.
LibraryThing member .Monkey.
I don't generally like reading depressing books. There's enough to be depressed about in the real world, books are an escape, therefore it's always nice when they're uplifting. But sometimes someone writes so incredibly well, that I'm willing to overlook that I know things will not end up pleasant
The blackberry twigs plucked at him and tried to hold him with small endearments, twisted small thorns into his clothes with a restraint like a caress, as though they were the fingers of a harlot in a crowded bar. He took no notice and plunged on. The fingers grew angry, slashed at his face with sharp, pointed nails.
The story opens on a man fearfully running from something, we know not what; as the story goes on we learn about him, what he is trying to escape - outside and in, and watch him battle with himself. Greene's language, the similes and phrasing... it's all so incredibly vivid, even while many of them are not things I'd ever have naturally thought of myself, they just work.
Over a toppling pile of green vegetables two old women were twittering. They pecked at their words like sparrows for crumbs.
Easily recommended, especially for those already familiar with Greene.
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in the end, and continue reading all their work regardless. Someone like Greene.The blackberry twigs plucked at him and tried to hold him with small endearments, twisted small thorns into his clothes with a restraint like a caress, as though they were the fingers of a harlot in a crowded bar. He took no notice and plunged on. The fingers grew angry, slashed at his face with sharp, pointed nails.
The story opens on a man fearfully running from something, we know not what; as the story goes on we learn about him, what he is trying to escape - outside and in, and watch him battle with himself. Greene's language, the similes and phrasing... it's all so incredibly vivid, even while many of them are not things I'd ever have naturally thought of myself, they just work.
Over a toppling pile of green vegetables two old women were twittering. They pecked at their words like sparrows for crumbs.
Easily recommended, especially for those already familiar with Greene.
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LibraryThing member jonfaith
This twitching encounter establishes the compunction and the fear which color Greene's career. The meance is in the details; though I suspect Greene's characters would find a surfeit of the sinister within their own natures.
LibraryThing member RonWelton
The Man Within is Graham Greene's first published book and it contains the genius of his ability to probe the human spirit and to challenge the Devine.
Francis Andrews is a pliant introspective who sees himself as divided by a cowardly, lustful, brutal self and a "critic" self who is virtuous and
This is a powerfully written novel and like others by Greene it leaves one haunted by characters made real and clinging to one long after the book has been closed.
Francis Andrews is a pliant introspective who sees himself as divided by a cowardly, lustful, brutal self and a "critic" self who is virtuous and
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reasonable but rarely able to overpower the other. Only when he finds Elizabeth who seems to him saintly because of her devotion to God and her belief in the afterlife does he begin to deal with his own inner demons.This is a powerfully written novel and like others by Greene it leaves one haunted by characters made real and clinging to one long after the book has been closed.
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LibraryThing member IonaS
The book begins with a man, Andrews, on the run from his best friend, Carlyon, whom he believes wants to kill him.
He comes to a cottage, goes in there for shelter and meets a woman called Elizabeth.
I didn’t much appreciate the book since I found it difficult to find out what exactly what was
It turned out that Carlyon and Andrews had been smugglers and the plot was related to that.
Eventually, Andrews falls in love with Elizabeth and she is his main focus.
This is not a book I would particularly recommend since I found it somewhat frustrating to read.
He comes to a cottage, goes in there for shelter and meets a woman called Elizabeth.
I didn’t much appreciate the book since I found it difficult to find out what exactly what was
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happening, and what the book really was about. It turned out that Carlyon and Andrews had been smugglers and the plot was related to that.
Eventually, Andrews falls in love with Elizabeth and she is his main focus.
This is not a book I would particularly recommend since I found it somewhat frustrating to read.
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LibraryThing member lamour
A complicated and difficult read and not as entertaining as some of his other books I have read. The narrative follows the anguish of Andrews as he tries to part company with a group of smugglers led by his former friend & father figure, Carlyon. After he tipped off the police about a smuggling
During his flight to safety, he seeks shelter with a lovely, lonely woman named Elizabeth. She convinces him to testify against Carlyon and then return to marry her. However, he becomes too frighten to return to her and spends the night with a harlot and then makes the decision to rejoin Elizabeth too late to save the dreams they had..
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delivery in which a police officer was killed, Andrews is on the run from his former colleagues.During his flight to safety, he seeks shelter with a lovely, lonely woman named Elizabeth. She convinces him to testify against Carlyon and then return to marry her. However, he becomes too frighten to return to her and spends the night with a harlot and then makes the decision to rejoin Elizabeth too late to save the dreams they had..
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Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
1929
Physical description
207 p.; 18.6 cm
Local notes
Omslag: Ted Passanissi
Omslaget viser en mand, der går hurtigt bort fra iagttageren. Billedet er lavet som en slags collage af silkepapir eller overlappende transparent vandfarve
Indskannet omslag - N650U - 150 dpi
Oversat fra engelsk "The man within" af Jens Juhl Jensen
Gyldendals Tranebøger, bind 14
Omslaget viser en mand, der går hurtigt bort fra iagttageren. Billedet er lavet som en slags collage af silkepapir eller overlappende transparent vandfarve
Indskannet omslag - N650U - 150 dpi
Oversat fra engelsk "The man within" af Jens Juhl Jensen
Gyldendals Tranebøger, bind 14
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Pages
207
DDC/MDS
| 823.912 |