The Power and the Glory by Graham Greene

A troubled “whisky priest” grapples with his conscience and devotion to his faith while evading capture at a time in Mexico when practicing Catholicism was a crime.

Summary

The Power and the Glory, published in 1940, is widely considered author Graham Greene’s masterpiece. Set in 1930s Mexico, during a time of religious persecution, this powerful novel explores themes of faith, corruption, and redemption. The story follows a flawed “whisky priest” as he evades authorities in Tabasco, a state where Catholicism has been outlawed. Throughout his journey, the priest grapples with his own sense of unworthiness while continuing to serve his flock.

Plot

Set in 1930s Mexico, The Power and the Glory follows an unnamed “whisky priest” on the run from authorities. As the last remaining Catholic priest in the Mexican state of Tabasco, where religion has been outlawed, he struggles to continue his sacred duties while evading capture and its consequences.

The protagonist is a deeply flawed individual—an alcoholic who has fathered an illegitimate child. Despite his failings and deep sense of unworthiness, he feels compelled to minister to the poor and marginalized people he encounters. His main adversary is a zealous police lieutenant determined to hunt down and execute the priest, seeing him as a threat to the state's ideology.

Throughout his travels, the whisky priest faces numerous challenges and moral dilemmas. He briefly reunites with his daughter but struggles to feel true repentance for his past actions. The priest's journey takes him through remote villages and treacherous terrain as he attempts to cross the border to a neighboring state where religious persecution is less severe.

In a climactic turn of events, the priest is lured back across the border by a mestizo who betrays him to the authorities. Though given the opportunity to escape, the priest chooses to fulfill his duty and hear the confession of a dying American criminal. This decision leads to his capture and eventual execution. The novel concludes with the arrival of a new priest in the area, suggesting the cyclical nature of faith and persecution.