The Comedians

By: Graham Greene

Narrated by: Joseph Porter

Three men meet on a ship bound for Haiti, where corruption and terror reign. Disillusioned and noncommittal, they are the “comedians” of Greene’s title, hiding from life’s pain and love behind their chosen masks.

©1965 Graham Greene (P)1993 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

“Graham Greene arouses responses of curiosity and attention comparable to those set up by Malraux…Faulkner and Hemingway.” ( New Statesman)

Fascinating

I am still not sure why this book was free but I am glad I read it. I wanted to learn more about Haiti and while it didn’t accomplish that goal it was still a great story.

Great historical novel

Relevant in our times. Not much has changed since then. Worth while book to read. Informative. Entertaining

Fabulous Greene story.

For those who grew up mostly ignorant of Haitian history and the appalling role of America, specifically the CIA, in supporting violent and inhumane regimes in South and Central America and the Caribbean, this book is a must read. While the Americans only show up in the persons of the buffoonish but ultimately heroic Smiths, the ghastly rule of of "Papa Doc" Duvalier, supported by the United States as a "bulwark against Communism," is laid open to the reader's horrified eyes.

The characters and history brought old Haiti alive

The narrator had good voices but too often he got the wrong voice or so it seemed to me. That led to confusion sometimes

Mixed Feelings

I will start by saying that some of the negative feelings you may have by the time you are two-thirds of the way through this story are made sense of by Greene in the last third of the story. However, I don’t know if the last third of the book makes up for weaknesses in attempts at satire in the earlier two-thirds. The story does have an interesting historical setting and, ultimately, and interesting message about idealism and its limits and importance in life; however, I thought some characters were unrealistic—or ineffectively satirical; also, and lastly, Brown’s womanizing of Martha seemed overwrought, or worse.

More than an “entertainment”

GG skewers Americans like nobody’s business. The C is funny, and deadly serious, and it’s a world none of us can ever return to.

Comedians indeed!

I have to admit that I enjoyed the book immensely. The narrator’s tone and pace matched the book’s Content perfectly, and I found myself enjoying the wry sarcasm of the author. A perfect pairing.

Good dramatic rendering of a Greene masterpiece

Joseph Porter gives a good rendering of this excellent novel. It would have been more satisfying if he had added more energy to the task. However there is a lovely range of nuances that he uses for the various colourful characters. Greene's brilliant prose underscores the entire experience. I look forward to reading the novel soon.

devoted Greene reader

Greene is a master story teller and always an intense observer of the world in which he places his story. I'm always intrigued as he questions faith and the good and evil which concern the human condition.

GG was a genius.

the man knew how to use metaphor better than anyone else I have read. and without the flowery fey nature of many.