Helpful Score: 2
"The Power and the Glory" was one of the most popular of Graham Greene's books. It won the Hawthornden Prize. It was originally published in 1940.
Back Cover
The last priest is on the run. During an anti-clerical purge in one or the southern states of Mexico, he is hunted like a hare. Too human for heroism, too humble for myatrydom, the little wordly "whisky priest" is nevertheless impelled towards hi squalid Calvary as much by his own compassion for humanity as by the efforts of his pursuers.
A baleful vulture of doom hovers over this modern crucifixion story, but above the vulture sours an eagle -- the inevitability of the Church's triumph.
Back Cover
The last priest is on the run. During an anti-clerical purge in one or the southern states of Mexico, he is hunted like a hare. Too human for heroism, too humble for myatrydom, the little wordly "whisky priest" is nevertheless impelled towards hi squalid Calvary as much by his own compassion for humanity as by the efforts of his pursuers.
A baleful vulture of doom hovers over this modern crucifixion story, but above the vulture sours an eagle -- the inevitability of the Church's triumph.
Helpful Score: 2
Considered one of Graham Greene's masterpieces, The Power and the Glory is a poignant spiritual and physical journey for its unnamed protagonist. In anticlerical early twentieth century Mexico, a whiskey priest (one whose personal life does not live up to the Church's teachings) is the last one on the run. A lieutenant is hunting for him, taking and killing hostages. Without being pedagogical, Greene offers vivid depictions of the historical moment and locale, based on his own travels, as well as memorable lines such as "hate is just a failure of the imagination." I truly enjoyed this novel on the list of 1001 books you should read before you die about flawed human beings struggling with faith, duty, and the meaning of life.
Helpful Score: 1
Award winning novel, but I didn't really enjoy it too much. Perhaps it was too dated for me.
Graham Greene is a world class story teller who gives real depth to his characters, showing the light and dark sides of human nature. Very moving.
The Power and the Glory has been listed as the "must read" Graham Greene novel and everyone should read a work of Senor Greene's, just not necessarily The Power and The Glory. This tale is gritty and hot and desprate as all Greene's work can be. The terms refer to psychological tone of the tale not the sexual tone. This book struck me as a very sad and wandering story of a very lost man, reminds me of Victor Hugo's The Bishop's Candlestick in tone. I would suggest Greens novel The Comedians as an more enjoyable read than The Power and the Glory.
A "modern crucifixion" story of a missionary in Mexico.
Brilliantly written and crafted story!
Powerful writing, though a rather bleak story
