ralentina reviewed The heart of the matter by Graham Greene
Old problematic Graham strikes again
5 stars
Set in a generic African colony (probably inspired by Sierra Leone), it's the story of a British policeman, and his struggle to reconcile love, morality and religion. Although religion is at the heart of the matter, Scoobie's sense of responsibility and moral duty are something I could relate to. That is, until the last third of the book, when I just wanted to punch this self-involved bastard in the face. A Catholic may feel otherwise. Beyond this moral issues, what makes the book great is the rest of the matter, so to speak. The life in the colony, its narrowness and banal injustice are described without accusation or analysis. There is nothing particularly postcolonial, let alone anti-colonial, about Green's writing, but also no sense of glory in the empire. I particularly loved the characterisations of the British officers as this pack of snotty boys just out of school. It came …
Set in a generic African colony (probably inspired by Sierra Leone), it's the story of a British policeman, and his struggle to reconcile love, morality and religion. Although religion is at the heart of the matter, Scoobie's sense of responsibility and moral duty are something I could relate to. That is, until the last third of the book, when I just wanted to punch this self-involved bastard in the face. A Catholic may feel otherwise. Beyond this moral issues, what makes the book great is the rest of the matter, so to speak. The life in the colony, its narrowness and banal injustice are described without accusation or analysis. There is nothing particularly postcolonial, let alone anti-colonial, about Green's writing, but also no sense of glory in the empire. I particularly loved the characterisations of the British officers as this pack of snotty boys just out of school. It came across as very realistic.