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89th out of 100 books
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The Tenth Man
During World War II, a group of men is held prisoner by the Germans, who determine that three of them must die. This is the story of how one of those men trades his wealth for his life -- and lives to pay for his act in utterly unexpected ways.
Paperback, 160 pages
Published
February 1st 1998
by Washington Square Press
(first published January 1st 1985)
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Though morality in politic is not popular any more, but these is what I like in Greene’s.
گراهام گرین هم یکی دیگر از نویسندگانی ست (مانند میلان کوندرا در این سال ها!) که به گمان من در زبان فارسی گرفتار بدشانسی شرایط و مترجمین اشتباهی شده و آن گونه که شایسته اش بوده، به خواننده ی فارسی زبان معرفی نشده است. دو اثر گرانمایه ی گرین "مرد دهم" و "وزارت ترس" با نثر سنگین مترجم صاحب نامی چون پرویز داریوش به فارسی برگردانده شده که برای یک متن فلسفی یا تاریخی پسندیده است اما...more
گراهام گرین هم یکی دیگر از نویسندگانی ست (مانند میلان کوندرا در این سال ها!) که به گمان من در زبان فارسی گرفتار بدشانسی شرایط و مترجمین اشتباهی شده و آن گونه که شایسته اش بوده، به خواننده ی فارسی زبان معرفی نشده است. دو اثر گرانمایه ی گرین "مرد دهم" و "وزارت ترس" با نثر سنگین مترجم صاحب نامی چون پرویز داریوش به فارسی برگردانده شده که برای یک متن فلسفی یا تاریخی پسندیده است اما...more
It's the time of the second World War. Jean-Louis Chavel is a rich lawyer, imprisoned and about to be shot. In a last-ditch attempt to save his life, he offers all his money and property to the family of any other prisoner willing to take his place. Most men think he is crazy -- but one agrees. The story of Chavel's life after this swap takes place is subtly and beautifully described by Greene in this work of fiction which would make for a wonderful movie. (I believe it was filmed for TV starrin...more
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In 1944 Greene was desperate for money and unsure of his future as a writer, so when MGM commissioned a novella from him to use as the basis for a movie he was only too happy to oblige: it put food on the family table and walls around them for a couple of years. The movie was never made and he more or less forgot the project until in the early 1980s MGM decided to auction the manuscript to publishers for what proved a healthy chunk of money -- of which none went to Greene. Reading his long-forgo...more
Greene, Graham. THE TENTH MAN. (1985; US-1998). ****. I thought I had read all of Greene’s books until I stumbled on this one. I don’t feel bad, however, because in a new introduction by the author, he admits that he had forgotten about it himself. It is a short novel that he had written and submitted to an MGM producer as a basis for a portential film script when he was on contract with them in 1944. Wartime and the subsequent release of several other of his novels slowly clouded his mem...more
Once upon a time in a nazi-occupied France. . . . .
It begins in a prison. There was a murder in the town where the prison was located. For some reason the kraut officials didn't bother trying to find who the real killer was and decided to take 3 prisoners and told everyone they were the killers. Those 3 prisoners were going to be executed. And there was nothing they could do about it.
The prisoners decided to pull a piece of paper out of a hat. If you took the ones marked with ...more
It begins in a prison. There was a murder in the town where the prison was located. For some reason the kraut officials didn't bother trying to find who the real killer was and decided to take 3 prisoners and told everyone they were the killers. Those 3 prisoners were going to be executed. And there was nothing they could do about it.
The prisoners decided to pull a piece of paper out of a hat. If you took the ones marked with ...more
This is a book about identity, conscience, and peace. It illuminates the ways we create self-identity, try to project identity for others, and also create their identities for ourselves. The main character, Chavel, is defined first by his education and station, then by his willingness to sell these things for his life. He attempts to regain his self-image in the things of his past, but instead comes to love a young woman who loathes him for selling his possessions in exchange for her brother'...more
Graham Greene has a gift for writing about the thoughts that go on inside of peoples heads. I enjoyed this book. A very sober and realistic book about the choices we make and the effects those choices have on our lives and the lives of the people we touch. Personally I feel this book is about being Catholic and our relationship to Jesus. For me the most important part of this life, is to grow closer to Christ and his Church here on Earth. The main character in this book struggles with his choice...more
This was a nice,tight little novella. Believe it or not, it's my first Graham Greene :) He has a nice preface where he discusses the story being picked up and made into a movie.
As I read, I envisioned a black and white movie complete with Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall, and Peter Lorre. The story starts in prison, with 10 men drawing lots to see which 8 will be spared their lives. A rich man offers all his money to one who will take his place. He then visits his old house (which...more
As I read, I envisioned a black and white movie complete with Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall, and Peter Lorre. The story starts in prison, with 10 men drawing lots to see which 8 will be spared their lives. A rich man offers all his money to one who will take his place. He then visits his old house (which...more
I read an essay by Stephen King recently lamenting the demise of the set 'em up knock 'em down brand of story telling. He's right of course. It seems that no longer happens in "serious" literature. I think King would enjoy this book. Admittedly I picked it up only because of the author's name...we didn't name our son after him, but I was glad to think there was a well known author with the name Graham. It was barely long enough to register as a novel, far too long for a short sto...more
"The blood from his stomach was running
now down his leg. It was as well that the girl was out of
the way. The touch of blood cooled his fever like
water. He took a quick look round: through the open
door the light returned now across the fields: it was
oddly satisfactory to die in his own home alone. It was
as if one possessed at death only what the eyes took in.
Poor Janvier, he thought-- the cinder track. He began
to sign his name, but before he h...more
now down his leg. It was as well that the girl was out of
the way. The touch of blood cooled his fever like
water. He took a quick look round: through the open
door the light returned now across the fields: it was
oddly satisfactory to die in his own home alone. It was
as if one possessed at death only what the eyes took in.
Poor Janvier, he thought-- the cinder track. He began
to sign his name, but before he h...more
What can one say about Graham Greene that hasn't been said? He was such a master at setting the scene and making his characters come alive in the scene he'd created ... in this case, a German prison camp during WWII. This is probably not his very best work (he didn't think so) and it was all but forgotten for years. It's a slight book but the reader is caught up in a small morality play from the first page. I always go back to Greene; this is one I hadn't read in years but I was glad to see ...more
It is a short story (only 150 pages) set during the Second World War in occupied France. Ten French men have been incarcerated in a Gestapo Prison and three of these men will be put to death by the Germans. The Germans don't care which three men so the choice is make by the ten men. How they make this choice and the results of these choices is a fascinating study in human behavour. Greene is also a playwright and it was very easy to imagine this book on stage. I would be in th audience.
This is an intriguing little novel, or maybe more of a long parable. A wealthy man in a concentration camp in France is chosen by lot to be one of three people executed. He offers to exchange all of his wealth, property and possessions for his life. A fellow inmate takes him up on it, wanting to die a wealthy man and leave his mother and his sister well off. After the war, the man who paid for his life returns to what had been his home under an assumed name, and winds up as a servant to the sist...more
I read this Greene novel after about a gap of fifteen years from the last one of his that I read. I have to say, Graham Greene has not lost his magic on me - the man's ability to twist and convolute his plot, mainly in the heads of his characters, is extraordinary. And to think that this novel was buried in the archives at a major film studio and nearly forgotten!
Quick, easy read. Interesting to read about a concentration camp experience that does not include Jews. Rather hackneyed "redemption" ending. It would have helped if I had recognized some of the names, which apparently would have been familiar to a reader in France in 1946 but which blew right by me until I picked up some context cues. I thought the little synopsis of the Jim Braddon story was interesting.
This book you have to read for yourself. It has a great underlying suspense throughout the story that makes it a good thriller. The plot is well thought of and is even better worked out. Nothing unnecessary about things being told, but every detail in the story has his place for a reason. Great stuff!
Impressive little cast-off novel that was found years after it was written. Engaging characters and plot. Greene makes great writing seem easy as this is way down his list when it comes to judging his best. Most writers would be happy to have this at the top of their output. Pretty enjoyable read and time well spent.
I didn't find myself entertained all that often in this book. I liked the plot, all the characters, and setting, But I found that the story progressed rapidly with little enthusiasm. It felt like a chore to read some chapters. I would like to rate this higher but after reading it I closed the book with a "blah" feeling I just cannot overcome.
I'm only giving it 4 stars because, after reading and enjoying the two synopses of films that are at the start of the book, I was disappointed that they were never made in to movies. Maybe more disappointed than Graham Greene himself.
As for the Tenth Man itself, it would get 5 stars.
As for the Tenth Man itself, it would get 5 stars.
Ah, the writing! Such a lovely aesthetic experience, this novella.
As a morality tale, it taught without preaching. We can easily identify with the progatonist's yearning to survive but along with him come to recognize that survival without scruples is a barren thing.
As a morality tale, it taught without preaching. We can easily identify with the progatonist's yearning to survive but along with him come to recognize that survival without scruples is a barren thing.
This would make a great movie. Fear, courage, mystery, intrgue, romance. it has it all. Greene is a great writer. Always has been....but this little book is a gem that lay forgotton for years and
was only discovered while he was working as a script writer for MGM.
was only discovered while he was working as a script writer for MGM.
Setting is post Nazi liberation France; the feeling of Europeans going down for one more moral war, with no victors in sight. This novella is for GG fans, otherwise it will be underwhelming. Reminded me of listening to a side B of a single released by a band you love.
I had not read Greene before when I picked this book up. I was pleasantly surprised by his straightforward style and his straightforward, engaging story. Will look for more of his books next time I'm 'shopping' for something to read.
A POW draws the lot that marks him for execution and another man agrees to take his place in trade for his family inheriting all of the first man's property. Interesting plot, treated with Greene's gift for sparseness and despair.
The novel’s great. What’s even more great is the fact this “novel” was just lying around in a movie studio’s file cabinet for decades. The contents of Greene’s file folders are more literate than most books.
I guess this is considered minor Graham Greene, but I enjoyed it anyway. It almost goes a little too fast. I find that sometimes I look at the covers of these pot boilers years after I've read them and I can't remember a thing.
Enjoyed this, but I love his work. It was a strange tale—apparently unearthed in his lifetime that he'd forgotten about. It was kind of a quiet story, but great characters that kept me reading.
Once again Greene tackles morality and identity in a masterful way. In only 150 pages, you get the whole story. He's straightforward and every word counts. Wonderful storytelling.
Just what I needed for summer. Short and thought provoking and visual and something to contemplate. This was not at all what I expected, which I like in a book.
started slow, wondered if I would finish it, ended up liking it a lot...more like a play than a novel, sparse, little description, just intimate, strange characters
Graham Greene was an English novelist, short story writer, playwright, screenplay writer, travel writer and critic whose works explore the ambivalent moral and political issues of the modern world. Greene combined serious literary acclaim with wide popularity.
Although Greene objected strongly to being described as a “Catholic novelist” rather than as a “novelist who happened to be Cath...more
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Although Greene objected strongly to being described as a “Catholic novelist” rather than as a “novelist who happened to be Cath...more
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“All the emotions have something in common. People are quite aware of the sorrow there always is in lust, but they are not so aware of the lust there is in sorrow.”
—
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