Graham Greene’s masterful novel of love and betrayal in World War II London is “undeniably a major work of art” (The New Yorker). Maurice Bendrix, a writer in Clapham during the Blitz, develops an acquaintance with Sarah Miles, the bored, beautiful wife of a dull civil servant named Henry. Maurice claims it’s to divine a character for his novel-in-progress. That’s the first deception. What he … the first deception. What he really wants is Sarah, and what Sarah needs is a man with passion. So begins a series of reckless trysts doomed by Maurice’s increasing romantic demands and Sarah’s tortured sense of guilt. Then, after Maurice miraculously survives a bombing, Sarah ends the affair–quickly, absolutely, and without explanation. It’s only when Maurice crosses paths with Sarah’s husband that he discovers the fallout of their duplicity–and it’s more unexpected than Maurice, Henry, or Sarah herself could have imagined.
Adapted for film in both 1956 and 1999, Greene’s novel of all that inspires love–and all that poisons it–is “singularly moving and beautiful” (Evelyn Waugh).
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Such a beautiful look at the way War impacts our lives and relationships.
It was too much trouble to try and figure out what the author was saying. I don’t want to have to work so hard to enjoy a book. I quit after 20 pages
The End of the Affair has all the hallmarks of Greene’s best writing – an adrift, unlikable, self-hating protagonist, penetrating examinations of memory and regret, the collision of personal drama amid greater geopolitical crises and war – but also the recurring themes of his worst work, particularly dealing with religion: straw men providing weak arguments against Christianity to be easily outmaneuvered, an endless Catholic persecution complex, and characters changing their opinions on large issues way too conveniently to suit the author. Ultimately, I just didn’t believe most of it. I didn’t buy Maurice and Sarah’s love, which doesn’t go far beyond sexual desire and is described by both with the maturity of overdramatic teenagers, and I didn’t buy Sarah’s belabored conversion, so what came after was boring and ineffective. There is a strange misconception among many Christians that nonbelievers are people who in actuality do believe in a god, and are just angry with him. As a militant agnostic, I can tell you this is not the case. If there is an all-knowing deity, I have no qualms with it; I simply object to the assumption of its existence, and the assumption that its existence would in any way absolve Catholicism of its treatment of women/gays/children/the list goes on. Maurice’s obsession with Sarah’s newfound religion seemed forced, the author manipulating his characters and making them do what he wanted them to do rather than what they would do, and for the last 60 pages or so of the book, I was begging for it to end.
Very depressing
Beautifully written. Love Graham Greene
I listened to the audio version narrated by Colin Firth. Need I say more?
Graham Greene and Colin Firth…..
This was a heavier read than I had imagined. The religious element was quite prominent and, for me, difficult to empathize with. I didn’t think most of the main characters were likeable and therefore I didn’t really care how it turned out. Still, I found it an interesting take on romance.
No one deals better with how we struggle with doubt than Greene. The End of the Affair, for all its surface cynicism, is a testament to the power of God’s relentless love.
well written British novel by a master G.Greene
I love almost everything by Graham Green. He is an excellent writer with
characters I can relate to – I am never disappointed when I read his books.
Much of it is very negative. Primary character is filled with jealousy and hate (for himself and others). Although he resolves his hate somewhat by the end of the novel, the book left me feeling sad, angry at the primary character and unsatisfied.
Thought provoking about relationships, faith and the meaning of love specific conditional and unconditional and much more far reaching.
I know it’s supposed to be a classic but didn’t like it all that much.
One of his best!
This is a story of an affair and its aftermath, set in England in the 1940’s. It is very well written and explores the very human characteristics of its main characters, and how those lead to the book’s outcome. Despite the protagonist’s faults, one empathizes with him.
Well written.
Greene at his most eloquent, risky, and extraordinary.
Beautifully written, melancholic, thought provoking
Excellent writing but I got bored and had to force myself to finish. Not much sympathy for the characters.
This book is a favorite! It moves me to be forgiving & loving. One of the best reads!