Many years ago I read something by Graham Greene and was not greatly impressed so I have avoided his writing ever since. However, I picked up this little book because it was a series of short essays and I thought my son might improve himself and his writing by reading a few of them. Of course, that has not eventuated so I have been reduced to reading them myself. They are a rather eclectic lot. Much of it falls into the category of literary criticism and I cannot but be impressed with the depth of Greene's reading and his grasp of language. The first couple of essays are reviews of Henry James and initially I felt the old distaste for the overly wrought prose and the carefully balanced sentences. It all seemed somewhat contrived. And trying a bit to hard to be "literary".....which in fact just made it rather difficult to read.
However, I persevered and read a few essays deeper into the book. Confession: I have not read all the essays...just a selection. But sometimes there are flashes of brilliance ...and his captivation by Rider Haggard and King Solomon's mines reflects some of my own early fascination with books ...including King Solomon's mines and Biggles in the Desert...which I think rather draws from Rider Haggard.
And on a biography of Conan Doyle: "it isn't easy for an author to remain a pleasant human being: both success and failure are usually of a crippling kind". And on Ford Maddox Ford, p 127, "A novelist is not a vegetable absorbing nourishment mechanically from soil and air; materials not easily or painlessly gained..."
I have come away, rather more appreciative of Greene's writing....and even impressed with his self deprecating addendum to his review of Beatrix Potter's work:"On the publication of this essay, I received a somewhat acid letter from Miss Potter correcting certain details.......She denied there had been any emotional disturbance at the time she had been writing Mr Tod: She was however, suffering from the after-effects of the flu. In conclusion she deprecated sharply the 'Freudian school' of criticism."
I still find much of his prose to be overwrought but recognise that he has a style all of his own that is actually quite entertaining ...though he is inclined to flaunt his erudition.
Three stars from me ( )

Have read his essay on his childhood reading, esp. Haggard and others.

Viking LC 79-75644, 463 pp. ( )