The Quiet American
Dear List
Without wishing to offend anyone's sensibilities and referring to nobody
in particular, I recall the main character of Graham Greene's classic,
Pyle, as a one book - one author type of person.
Greene's gentle poking fun of Pyle's unwavering sense of loyalty to his
author - York Harding is worth reading again.
Du
The late Professor Ralph Smith who lectured in Vietnamese History at SOAS (School of Oriental & African Studies, London University) objected angrily to being quoted as a source for Anthony Grey's novel Saigon. He regarded the book as a gross distortion of what actually happened.
Judy Stowe
On the other hand, Patrick Honey, former Lecturer in Vietnamese language at SOAS, spoke with great pride at having been the source for Graham Greene's Quiet American.
Judith
Judith A. N. Henchy, MLS, Ph.D.
I definitely agree with Duc. I am teaching a course this term on "Vietnamese and Thai Society through Literature" and am using Greene for the section on the American period (I am also showing the class the film "The Ugly American" which was filmed in Thailand in 1963). I find that Greene presents better than any other fiction writer I know of (and this very much includes Grey) the ambiguity that characterized the American encounter with Vietnam. The book does not, of course, create rounded characters for any Vietnamese, but I am assigning other works by Vietnamese for that purpose.
Biff (Charles Keyes)
Between Grey and Greene, I'd think my choice would be Greene, Judy.
As Faulkner said, between grief and nothing....
Duc
Hi Judith, Of course the late Paddy Honey, whom I knew well, boasted about taking Graham Greene to Phat Diem just as he often bragged about his many other contacts.But have you read the memoires of Raoul Salan where he says Graham Greene was one British spy too many. Try finding out about this in the British National Archives & you will come up against a brick wall unless our new Freedom of Information Act really works.
Judy Stowe