Indochine

Intense mid-20th century writing has surprised me again. Picking up Graham Greene’s The Quiet American from the library for my book group I was happy to see the shortness of it. Sometimes reading small books is a pleasure in itself. Not having read Graham Greene’s work before meant that I was mistaken to assume length had anything to do with weight.

How Greene was able to capture the mindset (which remains contemporary in my opinion) of Western men living in the East impresses me. The Americans, the British, the French, the Chinese, the lone Indian, and the Vietnamese interact and act upon one another. Some with understanding , some with concern, but all perform with enough ignorance and selfishness to create and sustain war.

There were many men, but only three women in this story. The wife, the mistress, and the mistress’ sister sought their vision as hard as the men, yet with nearly no interaction. Their decisions were equally crucial with those of the men in determining the outcome of our heros’ lives, likewise displaying how ownership of a conflict can pass hands and come around again.

Whether the cynic can remain uninvolved or the naïve live through his attachment may need more consideration, yet as presented here the answer is clear. The concept of marriage providing any stability at all comes into question, and the organization of an assassination by one who cringes to see a fly crushed is poignant. Once again, in love and war, everything becomes fair play.