For some reason I've never read any books by Graham Greene. . Not even Brighton Rock which I definitely own, have started at least 3 times and never got past page 53. Luckily my latest attempt at a Greene work has a mere 48 pages and the writing is very large and I've now polished it off 3 times.
Excellently illustrated by Edward Ardizzone The Little Train dates from 1946 and is one of a series of childrens books by Greene (the others in the series which F is trying to scoop up from Ebay are The Little Fire Engine (1950), The Little Horse Bus (1952) and The Little Steam Roller (1953).) I was completely unaware that this v.conservative tale of an ambitious engine itching to get away from the very boring small town of 'Little Snoreing' could have been by the terrible old grouch. My son loved it though and has spent many a minute poring over the elaborate pull out map trying to calculate The Little Train's journey back to where he started having regretted his decision to better himself, and as he puts it "see the world outside where the great expresses go".
Clearly a Billy Liar for 4 year olds the message is loud and clear. Stay where you are.
Sadly it appears that all of the books are out of print. We have a 1981 Puffin paperback and information about these books is glossed over in all the biogs. Bit of a shame cos The Little Train is ten times more fun than, i dunno, The End of the Affair.
You should read some Greene. OK, some *more* Greene. He is a fantastic writer: never a wasted word. Our Man In Havana is funny, in the manner of being driven through a city by a mad person: you laugh because otherwise you'll be terrified.
He used to sit down and write 500 words before lunch, then another 500 after. Then stop. (I think that's the right anecdote.)
Also wrote the screenplay for The Third Man - candidate for one of the top ten films of all time.
(PS - is this Wordpress?)
Charles
Posted by: Charles | July 10, 2004 at 10:18 PM
Jem - start with the Entertainments, his (I think) faultless early genre books, all good noirish British pre-war intrigue. I'll lend you them.
Posted by: Richard | August 17, 2004 at 11:51 AM