
Greene had wit and grace and character and story and a transcendent universal compassion that places him for all time in the ranks of world literature… —John le Carré Graham Greene’s first published novel tells the story of Andrews, a young man who has betrayed his fellow smugglers and fears their vengeance. Fleeing from them, with no hope of pity or salvation, he takes refuge in the house of a young woman, also alone in the world. Elizabeth persuades him to give evidence against his accomplices in court, but neither she nor Andrews is aware that to both criminals and authority, treachery is as great a crime as smuggling. The first step in a brilliant career, The Man Within offers a foretaste of Green’s recurring themes of religion, the individual’s struggles against cynicism, and the indifferent forces of a hostile world. This Penguin Classics edition features an introduction by Jonathan Yardley.For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.
Andrews, a young man who has betrayed his fellow smugglers, flees from his former associates while grappling with the moral consequences of his actions. Haunted by the fear of vengeance and his own perceived cowardice, he seeks sanctuary in the home of a woman named Elizabeth. As their relationship develops, she encourages him to testify against his accomplices, unaware that his act of betrayal places him in a precarious position with both the criminal underworld and the legal authorities. The narrative explores the internal conflict of a man caught between his desire for redemption and his inherent cynicism.
Readers and critics often identify this novel as a significant indicator of the thematic preoccupations that would define the author's later career. Discussion frequently centers on the intense psychological interiority of the protagonist and the stark, often bleak, atmosphere of the setting. Many observers highlight the author's early mastery of moral complexity, noting how the narrative avoids simple resolutions regarding right and wrong. The pacing is described as deliberate, allowing for a deep examination of the protagonist's internal struggle against his own nature. Readers interested in the evolution of twentieth-century literary style often find this work a compelling starting point for understanding the author's broader body of work.
Page Count:
224
Publication Date:
1982-07-29
Publisher:
Penguin Books
ISBN-10:
0140032835
ISBN-13:
9780140032833
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