The Power and the Glory

By: Graham Greene

Narrated by: Bernard Mayes

Length: 9 hrs and 1 min

Publisher's summary

Graham Greene explores corruption and atonement in this penetrating novel set in 1930s Mexico during the era of Communist religious persecutions. As revolutionaries determine to stamp out the evils of the church through violence, the last Roman Catholic priest is on the lam, hunted by a police lieutenant. Despite his own sense of worthlessness—he is a heavy drinker and has fathered an illegitimate child—he is determined to continue to function as a priest until captured. He is contrasted with Padre Jose, a priest who has accepted marriage and embodies humiliation.

A Christian parable pitting God and religion against 20th-century materialism, The Power and the Glory is considered by many, including the author himself, to be Greene’s best work.

©1940, 1962, 1968 by Graham Greene (P)1990 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

“As brilliantly written as it is magnificently conceived.” (Chicago Sun)

Probably Greene's best book

Although not his best known, this is probably Greene's best, and certainly most powerful, book, depicting the holiness of a priest who does know know he is holy, and in fact believes the opposite is true. Well worth listening to!

Wonderful story after the first few hours

This story was very intriguing, but it took a long time to get into. It transitions between characters and families without introduction.

Character list:
Whiskey priest: main character but unnamed.

Padre Jose: a cowardly married priest

Fellows Family: Banana farmers who hide the whisky priest.

Half-caste: a homeless guy who is a sort of a Judas type person.

Mr Tench: a dentist with stomach ailments. He befriends the whiskey priest.

Luis and his family: this is a 14 year old boy whose mother is a Christian and reads her children books about martyrdom .

Lehr brother and sister: Lutherans who house and nurse the whiskey priest while he is sick.

The Lieutenant: a kind but anti religious man. He is on the hunt to obliterate priests.

This is pretty much who you need to know. All these people have stories going on at the same time and The author switches between them.

Wonderful

What made the experience of listening to The Power and the Glory the most enjoyable?

It had been a LONG time since I had read Graham Greene. This book made me glad that I had returned and led me to read or listen to two or three others immediately -- and I will do more.

What did you like best about this story?

The power of the characters as woven into the plot.

Which scene was your favorite?

Not sure I can pick one.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I was ready to cry as it finished. We were listening in the car and I turned to my wife and said, 'That is not just fiction. It is too powerful." That led me to read some biographical information on Greene which confirmed that in fact the affair was probably based on one in his own life. Normally on a long car trip I finish one book on tape and start the next one. I could not start another one for a good while after finishing this -- I wanted silence.

Any additional comments?

I try to be positive in general, but for me to give something 5 stars across the board is VERY unusual. Highly recommended.

Outstanding!

Amazing story, dripping with humanity, extremely well read. It really draws you in and by the end you’re fully in its grasp.

Great story, old recording

Geniously written, this story talks about the figure of priesthood transcending human weakness and the transformative power of the holy spirit. Based on true historic circumstances, the Cristero persecution in Mexico during the presidency of Elias Calles.

The worst narrator ever

This is the worst narration I have encountered in my many years with Audible. Usually I don't mind even the most idiosyncratic narrators.

May become a all time favorite

At first, the narrator bothered me, but I now see how perfect his voice was for this book. I did knock off one point for the quality of the recording, but it wasn't so bad that it ruined the story for me.

More importantly, this is such a well crafted story, and Green understood better than most how to tell the truth about the Christian life. Powerful, not preachy.

Examination of Evil

This is one of Greene's novels that examines evil.

A "whiskey" priest repeatedly escapes a lieutenant who is part of the regime suppressing Catholicism in Mexico. The priest questions his own worth, and towards the end comes to terms with God as he faces his execution.

I've seen many movies based on novels by Graham Greene, but this is the first I've read.

Based on the presidency of Plutarco Elías Calles. Calles' regime was known for its represive anti-Catholic phase.

Quality of the audio book was horrible. I listened at 1.5x speed, which seemed to help.

Wow! I love this book!

I keep listening to this book over again something always gets to me that I didn't fully get before. The image of the nameless Father being continually pared down to his essence, which is so pure, is compelling and strangely comforting. The narration is striking and quite funny in parts. Mr. Mayes has unusual voice that drew me in right away. I highly recommend this book.

A Graham Greene Masterpiece

What did you love best about The Power and the Glory?

This is classic Gramham Green struggling with his love/hate relationship with Catholicism. The "hero" is an alcoholic priest on the run from persecution in Mexico. He is a coward, he has fathered a child and yet he struggles to serve. He is totally believing of a very narrow Catholicism that condemns him. Today even many Catholics would consider his beliefs almost superstitious and yet he is true to them and is indeed heroic in many ways. I don't know if readers who are not familiar with the Catholicism of those times will understand or find it believable yet it is a powerful story.

What did you like best about this story?

The beautiful writing, the way Greene pulls you completely into the characters and their struggles. There is so much poverty, superstition, hatred and yet so much hidden strength. And how he faces the weaknesses in people - he has seen it all, including his own.

What does Bernard Mayes bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

He read beautifully. He did not try to over-act the voices. He is the kind of reader I like.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The scenes when the priest on the run encounters people who initially disgust or frighten him and how he struggles to see them as they really are.