Title: Brighton Rock
Author: Graham Greene
Type: Fiction
Page Count/Review Word Count: 269
Rating: 8/10
Graham Greene – Brighton Rock
Brighton Rock is probably Graham Greene’s most well-known novel, and it’s well-known for a good reason – it’s one of his better works, although I feel like I say that every time I read one of his books. It’s also one of several novels which were adapted for the silver screen.
The classic tale follows a gangster called Pinkie, the anti-hero who’s more of a criminal. He’s kind of like Holden Caulfield, only a little more sinister, a man who runs a mob at the tender age of seventeen. Interestingly, it’s also a self-referential piece of work – the murder of the previous boss occurs in A Gun for Sale, one of Greene’s earlier novels, and that allows Pinkie to take over the mob in the first place.
Pinkie himself is a fascinating character, and while you might not be able to relate to his way of life, you’ll be able to relate to the human needs and urges that lie beneath his rocky personality. The supporting characters aren’t as memorable, but I suspect that that’s deliberate, to highlight Pinkie for readers.
Brighton Rock is far from Greene’s strongest novel, and I’d recommend checking out some of his entertainments, like Travels with my Aunt, as well as his more serious work like The Heart of the Matter. Brighton Rock can wait, but make sure that you get round to it in the end – it’d be a shame to miss out, and perhaps you’ll see what the fuss is all about.
Graham Greene
