A
Gun for Sale
Heinemann (1936)
Graham Greene
I’ve always read Graham Greene novels. It’s a symptom of being born in Brighton (Rock). Greene was a prolific author so there appears to be a never ending supply of books I still haven’t come across. In a recent visit to an Islington library, I picked up A Gun for Sale. Having only recently read DEATH AND THE PENGUIN I wonder if I’m attracted to lonely male characters.
DatP focused on a generally unsympathetic man, and here I am again being led by anything but a hero. Greene introduces the reader to a hitman called Raven whose first act involves a grisly murder for money. And yet, and yet...
Heinemann (1936)
Graham Greene
I’ve always read Graham Greene novels. It’s a symptom of being born in Brighton (Rock). Greene was a prolific author so there appears to be a never ending supply of books I still haven’t come across. In a recent visit to an Islington library, I picked up A Gun for Sale. Having only recently read DEATH AND THE PENGUIN I wonder if I’m attracted to lonely male characters.
DatP focused on a generally unsympathetic man, and here I am again being led by anything but a hero. Greene introduces the reader to a hitman called Raven whose first act involves a grisly murder for money. And yet, and yet...
Greene has made this bitter, lonely, hair-lipped,
ugly man more likable than you might think beyond the first page.
This is a classic pre-WWII thriller. I imagine it played on the fears of its contemporary British readers as the unquestionable stench of failed diplomacy and, ultimately, war grew stronger.
As with Viktor in Kurkov’s DatP, Raven is a loner. Only this time, he is all too aware of his criminal intent. A Gun for Sale opens with the killer and we stay with him for a time. There’s another - albeit small - parallel with Viktor: Raven has taken to a kitten - perhaps the only thing he’s ever trusted.
But Greene allows us insights into other characters. Some offer interest, others fall short. Perhaps it was because I read this after Kurkov’s singular narrative, but I found the differing viewpoints fascinating - a whole world opened up for perusal.
There are some terrific other characters. What should be the hero of the story - a Met Police officer named Mather in hot pursuit of Raven - is in fact lifeless and dull. And, interestingly, morphs towards the edges of the plot as the pages roll on. His stuttering sidekick is far more interesting.
It is Mather’s fiancé (well, maybe not quite but they’re heading that way), Anne, who is close to being the most fascinating character. A strong female one too. Not something one might necessarily think from a book written before WWII.
AGfS isn’t all up to date though. A couple of times casual racism pops in for a drink. To be honest, it could do without the point of view from many of the others. They add little. In fact, they actually detract away from the excitement of the chase at various points.
Greene’s shoved a little nod to Poe in there too. Naming the main character who seems almost content in his loneliness as Raven is a decent touch.
Is it a masterpiece? Probably not. Is it worth a read? Yes. Especially if you’re a bloke who likes vintage thrillers. 7/10*
*This scoring system is based on how many chapters you can skip. In AGfS, for instance, you only need read seven out of every 10 chapters.
This is a classic pre-WWII thriller. I imagine it played on the fears of its contemporary British readers as the unquestionable stench of failed diplomacy and, ultimately, war grew stronger.
As with Viktor in Kurkov’s DatP, Raven is a loner. Only this time, he is all too aware of his criminal intent. A Gun for Sale opens with the killer and we stay with him for a time. There’s another - albeit small - parallel with Viktor: Raven has taken to a kitten - perhaps the only thing he’s ever trusted.
But Greene allows us insights into other characters. Some offer interest, others fall short. Perhaps it was because I read this after Kurkov’s singular narrative, but I found the differing viewpoints fascinating - a whole world opened up for perusal.
There are some terrific other characters. What should be the hero of the story - a Met Police officer named Mather in hot pursuit of Raven - is in fact lifeless and dull. And, interestingly, morphs towards the edges of the plot as the pages roll on. His stuttering sidekick is far more interesting.
It is Mather’s fiancé (well, maybe not quite but they’re heading that way), Anne, who is close to being the most fascinating character. A strong female one too. Not something one might necessarily think from a book written before WWII.
AGfS isn’t all up to date though. A couple of times casual racism pops in for a drink. To be honest, it could do without the point of view from many of the others. They add little. In fact, they actually detract away from the excitement of the chase at various points.
Greene’s shoved a little nod to Poe in there too. Naming the main character who seems almost content in his loneliness as Raven is a decent touch.
Is it a masterpiece? Probably not. Is it worth a read? Yes. Especially if you’re a bloke who likes vintage thrillers. 7/10*
*This scoring system is based on how many chapters you can skip. In AGfS, for instance, you only need read seven out of every 10 chapters.
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