books and culture
A Definitive Dig in the Graham Greene Quarry In brisk, cinematic prose reminiscent of the author’s own, Richard Greene shows his subject both fair criticism and sympathy.
Arts and Culture
In this witty, elegant, revelatory biography, Richard Greene states that his “book takes a very high view of Graham Greene’s accomplishments, and so endorses the common opinion of three generations of writers and critics that he is one of the most important figures in modern literature.” “Important” writers are not necessarily good writers; in fact, they can be rather poor ones, especially if their importance hinges on their aping, or, worse, pandering to the prejudices of their age; but Greene was a good writer despite the “importance” often attributed to him. Not a stylist in the sense in which Evelyn Waugh or Ford Madox Ford were stylists, he accomplished his art and won his popularity by concealing his art. Moreover, while he may have shared