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The Comedians  By  cover art

The Comedians

By: Graham Greene
Narrated by: Adrian Lukis
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Publisher's Summary

Brought to you by Penguin.

Three men meet on a ship bound for Haiti, a world in the grip of the corrupt 'Papa Doc' and the Tontons Macoute, his sinister secret police. Brown the hotelier, Smith the innocent American and Jones the confidence man - these are the 'comedians' of Graham Greene's title. Hiding behind their actors' masks, they hesitate on the edge of life. And, to begin with, they are men afraid of love, afraid of pain, afraid of fear itself.

©1966 Graham Greene (P)2020 Penguin Audio

What listeners say about The Comedians

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Quite brilliant

Wonderful historical fiction. Superbly written with outstanding character development. Mr Smith is a joy. First class narration. Highly recommended.

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  • Kirstine
  • 05-19-20

Great story but not much comedy

Set in Haiti near the end of Papa Doc’s vicious regime the story is pervaded by an aura of menace as the Tonton Macoute kill and injure anyone they please. Against this backdrop are the stories of flawed people who nevertheless elicit sympathy as they try to make the best of their lives. The central character hotelier Mr Brown is a familiar Graham Greene character full of regrets, embroiled in a tempestuous affaire with a married woman and still carrying the guilt of a lapsed Catholic. As with other if the author’s books I leave with a sense of sadness for the characters I’ve lived with for many hours.
The narrator is outstanding.

9 people found this helpful

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  • Cazza
  • 09-13-20

One of the best Graham Greene audiobooks

I’ve been a lifelong Greene fan and know his books so well that I approached this recording with a degree of apprehension, concerned that it might have nothing new to offer. I was wrong. Adrian Lukis was superb, doing all the voices and catching the essence of all the characters brilliantly. I found it much more moving than I’d anticipated and was genuinely sad to finish it.

4 people found this helpful

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  • Fitz
  • 01-05-21

Superbly read - a classic Graham Greene novel

The narrator, Adrian Lukis, reads this classic with wit, verve and at exactly the right pace. His treatment of the American couple, the Smiths, is humane and humourous. The novel itself is beyond reproach - love, betrayal, loyalty are the classic themes, set in the exotic environment of Haiti leading to a conclusion which echoes life.

3 people found this helpful

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  • Mr. R. Jarmain
  • 10-10-20

One of the best books I have ever listened to!

One of Graham Green's finest novels performed to perfection. An absolute masterpiece. Don't miss it.

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  • Amazon Customer
  • 05-18-21

Classy

Well read,
I have been thoroughly entertained.
Worth my monthly credit.
A grown up story.
Dark, funny and believable.

1 person found this helpful

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  • C. A. Harfleet
  • 11-28-22

As always faultlessly brilliant

Grahame Greene is a wonderful writer. His thoughts are deeply philosophical and he never fails to engage my mind from start to finish.

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  • Amazon Customer
  • 11-09-21

Recommended listen

Another author at the height of his career. Full of characters that are totally believable. History lesson in the troubled island of Haiti, whose troubles continue today. Excellent reader and well crafted story.

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  • Anonymous User
  • 10-08-21

So many voices!

Graham Greene is a masterful writer, that goes without saying - and Adrian Lukis' ability to bring Greene's characters to life is truly impressive. I lost count but he voices at least 17 characters, and each one is so distinct, you never lose sight of who they are. Between them, Greene and Lukis bring this very particular time in Haitian history to life.

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  • Reggie
  • 09-12-21

Greeneland

Another wonderful addition to the Graham Greene Audible Library and Adrian Lukis grabs the baton from TPS and runs with it smooth and skilfully.

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  • Reluctant Sceptic
  • 06-28-21

Very engaging story and reading

Thoroughly enjoyed listening to The Comedians by Graham Green . Along with the story intrigue and wonderful reading, not a sentence was missed.

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  • Anonymous User
  • 09-04-22

Excellent audio version of Greene's novel

I have read Greene's The Comedians many times and appreciate the novelist's skill in creating and depicting complex characters, human interactions and the environment surrounding the story. This audio version, with very good narration by Adrian Lukis, provides a different, and effective, experience of the novel. Lukis narrates in a measured, slightly dry delivery appropriate to the tone of Greene's text, but skillfully manages voice changes for character development. I could wish for better pronunciation of French words and phrases at times (final syllable in "Haïtien" an example), but this is a minor quibble. I highly recommend this audiobook and applaud Adrian Lukis' narration.

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  • Richard
  • 10-28-21

Marvellous.

Having read and listened to most of Graham Greene’s novels this is the best. It’s very timely with recent events in Haiti. It appears nothing has changed despite being on Americas back door. Greene’s description of the the country and system of government is wonderful. His writings are timeless and unusual being written in the first person.

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  • Craig
  • 06-21-21

A weighty story, old philosophy

I enjoyed the personal stories and relationships more than the old ‘comedian’ or existential part-playing philosophy being illustrated, which I find dry and empty. Though the philosophy illustrates some truth in how people may choose to divert themselves from reality, escape it, or give up the mask and face it.

The narrator’s character voices drifted at times, but I warmed to him through the novel.

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  • Danesh Argomand
  • 07-25-20

loved it

the narrator did justice to the awesome story. loved it. totally recommend it. a must listen