Take from Amazon "Greene's take on the power struggle taking place in Indochina in the nineteen fifties, depicting the struggle between the French, the Americans and the native Third Way is perceptive, powerful and yet always understated.
The story is told through the eyes of a world weary English journalist, Fowler, a man who has given up taking sides and gone native, taking a Vietnamese lover and deputising his work to a minion while he spends his days observing the world pass him by and his nights smoking opium.
His world is shaken apart by the arrival of the high minded American, Pyle. Pyle, who is determined to do good, to 'save' everyone and to hang on to his principles.
Pyle falls in love with Phuong, Fowler's lover, and the jealousy this causes means that Fowler can no longer sit on the fence.
Greene shows the futility of fighting over a beloved object, whether it be a country or a person, and the damage that it causes, during and after.
His depiction of war torn Vietnam is subtle and tender. He offers no real answers, but bears witness to the beginning of what will go on to be one of the bloodiest wars of the Twentieth century. "

This was the 2nd of Greene's books I've read. Although I found it a little difficult at times I enjoyed it and couldn't believe how perceptive it was!

This book is now being placed in ApoloniaX' VBB

Sending to Annimanni who chose it from a VBB.....enjoy!

The Quiet American has arrived in Finland, with the BCID following closely behind ;) Thank you very much, sing-on-a-star! It's the first Graham Greene book I'm going to tackle. Let's see how I find it!