A Gun for Sale in Espionage Aficionados

Mar 09, 2012 Dfordoom rated it really liked it

Shelves: crime-mystery

Graham Greene’s 1936 novel A Gun for Sale is probably better known for the 1942 movie adaptation, the classic film noir This Gun for Hire. In fact th movie, while excellent, bears little resemblance to Greene’s novel.

In the novel the professional hitman, Raven, is a profoundly ugly man and it’s suggested that his anti-social habits may have a great deal to do with his ugliness. He has been employed to carry out a political assassination, a deed that may well plunge the world into war. The conseq ...more

3 likes · Like · see review

Aug 14, 2020 Scott Head rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Graham Greene is a master of literature, even his so-called "entertainments" are deeply moving studies of the imperfect, flawed people that most of us pass by. This story is a fast moving but dense dance between Rave, a cold-blooded but relatable murderer-for-hire; Anne, a bold and confident young hopeful stage actress; and her private fiancee, Mather, who's only goal is to marry and live a life of average normalcy. With the sleazier side of mankind close at hand, these kinds of goals often take ...more

3 likes · Like · see review

Dec 08, 2015 Greg rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: england, british-authors

First published 1936. I read a 1963 Penguin edition.

Written just prior to Brighton Rock, A Gun For Sale is a thriller about Raven, a hired killer, where Graham Greene began developing the character for Pinkie. Comparing the way Greene has changed elements of the killer to Brighton Rock is fascinating. Both novels are equally great. There is no similarity in the story between the two books other than Kite gets a mention from Raven's past.
Raven's evil character comes from his horrendous childhoo First published 1936. I read a 1963 Penguin edition.

Written just prior to Brighton Rock, A Gun For Sale is a thriller about Raven, a hired killer, where Graham Greene began developing the character for Pinkie. Comparing the way Greene has changed elements of the killer to Brighton Rock is fascinating. Both novels are equally great. There is no similarity in the story between the two books other than Kite gets a mention from Raven's past.
Raven's evil character comes from his horrendous childhood and parents, and embellished with having a facial disfigurement as well as being ugly, to enhance a sense of corruption and evil. I don't think it is a good thing to employ the use of physical ugliness, deformity or disfigurement to stereo-type an evil character. (Victor Hugo did the opposite with the Hunchback.) Raven does not have a psychopathic mind. Behind his hardened shield he could respond to friendship and has a sense of loyalty, whereas Pinky didn't have any outward physical disfigurement, Greene shifted it internally to Pinkie's mind. Raven was repulsed by religion, whereas Pinkie was tormented by being a Catholic and a criminal. It was the Catholic theology woven into a gangster crime novel that turned me right off Brighton Rock initially. Ruined the rest of the book for me.
The reasons why I prefer A Gun For Sale over Brighton Rock, as well as to preferring the story, are: A Gun For Sale as a title refers to two different aspects of the story. Foremost the story is about a hired gunman, but also and that which gives this book a greater strength is the underlying message about how and why and by whom world wars are started. God, Greene is brilliant the way he says this without preaching or moralising.
I like the way the story can change scene at the start of a new chapter and introduce new characters and slowly weaves the action back into the story. I enjoyed the part with the medical students on a 'Rag' stunt driven by Buddy Ferguson and what happens to him. The way Greene can draw a big, loud bully, and G.G. smoothly slipping in amongst the action the real Buddy and the real future and career awaiting him.
There are five main male characters, Raven, Detective sergeant Jimmy Mather, Mr. Cholomondeley aka Mr. Davis, Sir Marcus, and Saunders, which highlights the only main female character, Anne Crowder, an important part in this tale. A resourceful, fearless girl.
Mr. Cholomondeley is very much in the mould of Christopher Isherwood's Mr. Norris.

A Gun For Sale also has a beautiful twist of irony of a cold-blooded killer turning Vigilante. ...more

2 likes · Like · see review