Literature Companion: The Quiet American

By History World

“The Quiet American” by Graham Greene was first published in England in 1955. The following year the book was published in the United States. It is an anti-war novel that describes the events drawn on the author’s own experiences as a war correspondent. The author was the war correspondent for ‘The Times’ and ‘Le Figaro’ in French Indochina 1951 to 1954.

The book was also made into movies, first in the year 1958 and then in 2002. It is said that once the author was driving back to Saigon from Ben Tre province. During that ride, he got inspired to write this novel. In was the month of October in 1951. While he was in Vietnam in 1951, there was an American aid worker with him. That man explained to Graham Greene in great details that a third force was to be found in Vietnam.

Literature Companion: The Quiet American
Copyright
Chapter One: Introduction
Chapter Two: Plot Overview
Chapter Three: Major Characters
Chapter Four: Complete Summary
Part One
Part Two
Part Three
Part Four
Chapter Five: Critical Analysis

• Language: English
• Publisher: Raja Sharma
• Release date: Dec 30, 2014
• ISBN: 9781310396205

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Literature Companion: The Quiet American

Copyright

Literature Companion: The Quiet American

History World

Copyright@2014 History World

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Chapter One: Introduction

The Quiet American by Graham Greene was first published in England in 1955. The following year the book was published in the United States. It is an anti-war novel that describes the events drawn on the author’s own experiences as a war correspondent. The author was the war correspondent for ‘The Times’ and ‘Le Figaro’ in French Indochina 1951 to 1954.

The book was also made into movies, first in the year 1958 and then in 2002. It is said that once the author was driving back to Saigon from Ben Tre province. During that ride, he got inspired to write this novel. In was the month of October in 1951. While he was in Vietnam in 1951, there was an American aid worker with him. That man explained to Graham Greene in great details that a third force was to be found in Vietnam.

When the book was first published, it was not very well received and there was a lot of criticism, but now that is the thing of the past. The Quiet American has been considered as a great piece of literature.

There was an article printed in TIME magazine in 2007 that provided the details of a journey which was taken by the fans of Graham Green to Saigon. They followed the paths which the characters of the novel had taken in the past.

It proved to be a new way to attract tourists to Vietnam and the Vietnamese Government is very positive about it. A kind of new tourism started. Now it is said that the street vendors in Vietnam sell hundreds of copies of The Quiet American every week on the Rue Catinat, which was the setting of Fowler’s flat in the book.

Chapter Two: Plot Overview

Thomas Fowler is the central character in the story. He happens to be a journalist from Great Britain. He is in his fifties. When the book opens, he is covering the French war in Vietnam. He has been there for two years.

Fowler comes across a young American idealist named Alden Pyle. It transpires that Pyle is an undercover agent working for CIA. He is greatly inspired by the books written by York Harding, who writes books on the subject of foreign police. Pyle has most of his opinions based on the writings of York Harding although Harding did not have any real experience in matters of Southeast Asia.

Harding believes that neither Communism nor Colonialism can solve the problems of the countries like Vietnam. He believes that a ‘Third Force’ works best in such foreign lands.

During the first meeting between Fowler and Pyle, he tells Fowler that he wants to know more about Vietnam and he would be delighted if Fowler helped him. It is obvious that Fowler is more realistic, much older, and more cynical.

As the story progresses, it is disclosed that Fowler lives with Phuong in live-in relationship. She is twenty years old and she used to be a dancer at The Arc en Ciel on Jaccareo Road in Cholon.

Phuong’s sister wants Phuong