The Heart of the Matter

What is the "heart of the matter"? For me, Graham Greene ranks with Faulkner and Conrad in his unsparingly honest, yet empathetic insight into the human heart. And, not that of great men, but of ordinary people who try hard to stay right, not always succeeding, but often failing nobly. The Heart of the Matter is to me Greene's most vivid and memorable foray into this terra incognita. Scobie is noble, flawed and fully realized. The so-called "invented" world through which he walks is so richly atmospheric that it hardly seems fictional.The plot here is a bit less animated than in some of Greene's other famous novels, but the richness of character and detail keeps you involved. Ultimately, this is a book I will never forget, largely because it gave me the chance to view the world through the eyes of of another human being, which to me is truly the "heart of the matter."

What is the "heart of the matter"? For me, Graham Greene ranks with Faulkner and Conrad in his unsparingly honest, yet empathetic insight into the human heart. And, not that of great men, but of ordinary people who try hard to stay right, not always succeeding, but often failing nobly. The Heart of the Matter is to me Greene's most vivid and memorable foray into this terra incognita. Scobie is noble, flawed and fully realized. The so-called "invented" world through which he walks is so richly atmospheric that it hardly seems fictional.The plot here is a bit less animated than in some of Greene's other famous novels, but the richness of character and detail keeps you involved. Ultimately, this is a book I will never forget, largely because it gave me the chance to view the world through the eyes of of another human being, which to me is truly the "heart of the matter."

'My experiences in Sierra Leone were rich enough, but I have never been satisfied with what I made of them.' So Graham Greene wrote in 1980, three decades after his publication of 'The Heart of the Matter.' Ever a tough self-critic, the novel has been far better received by scholars and audiences than Greene himself. This widespread success has helped to establish Greene as one of the twentieth century's leading British novelists and, with figures such as Evelyn Waugh, Paul Claudel, and François Mauriac, as one of the greatest Roman Catholic writers in modern history.

First published in 1948, 'The Heart of the Matter' was inspired by Greene's life as a British intelligence officer in Sierra Leone during the Second World War. Greene, mixing his Catholic background with immense skills in fiction, journalism, and travel writing, penned a social drama that is arguably the best of his career. It earned the James Tait Black Memorial Prize, Britain's version of the Pulitzer, in its first impression and reached Time Magazine's list of the 100 best English-language novels from 1923 to 2005.

Taking place in a Sierra Leone township during wartime, Greene draws vividly from his experiences as an MI6 official and the well-known irregularities of his love life. He immerses us with the novel's opening pages into a hot, humid, and malaria-ridden territory of coastal British Africa; the sweat on one's arms, the constant feeling of being watched, and the sound of vultures clopping on tin roofs predominate this scene. The locals of Sierra Leone - those of the Black underclass - are illiterate, often born out of wedlock, and fill roles comparable to slavery.

Against this musty backdrop, Greene paints his characters with a simple, journalistic flair. The focal point is Henry Scobie, a deputy commissioner who is next in line to head the colony's police department. Scobie and his wife Louise are devout Catholics who seem out of place in their African surroundings: Scobie, while regarded as an honest and efficient officer, is distrusted by his colleagues for being too above-board. Louise is an aloof and opportunistic woman who has little in common with her husband, including a thirst for social advancement and a love of poetry. Yet their relationship endures in this bleak setting; marriage has once again become a 'habit,' as Greene so often laments.

Scobie's main asset - a sympathy for those around him - is also his most glaring weakness. Consumed by a police state where unhappiness reigns, Scobie damages his integrity by taking loans from Yusef, a Syrian gem trafficker, in order to send Louise on a costly relocation to South Africa. While Louise is away, he falls in love with Helen Rolt, a young woman who managed to survive days at sea following a boating accident that killed her just-married husband. Scobie discovers his faith as a Catholic, the one power he can turn to, unraveling in this chaos while at the same time galvanizing his link with the divine. This happens while a London spy named Wilson, who holds childish feelings for Louise, keeps a watchful eye and happily reports to his superiors.

'The Heart of the Matter,' written at the peak of Greene's literary abilities, is a novel with superb emotional depth and range. Much of the story takes place as an interior monologue that follows Scobie's ensuing crises in love, faith, and the will to live. While firmly rooted in Greene's Catholic outlook, the novel extends beyond his faith and deals with universal concepts of self-respect, compassion, and decency: how can one maintain his truthfulness, Greene asks, in a world of lies and deceit? Should we really have intolerance for deceit when the world appears so rotten? And is total understanding between human beings possible when compared to the definiteness of a man's spirituality?

Compared to earlier novels such as 'England Made Me' and 'Brighton Rock,' 'The Heart of the Matter' has better-developed characters, a more cohesive plot, and solid narration. Greene still falls into an overuse of simile and certain events don't happen with a feeling of the inevitable, but 'Matter' still ranks as one of the best-written novels in twentieth century literature and holds a deserving place in Green's 'Catholic' cycle of novels that secured his legacy.

'The Heart of the Matter' is a frequently-printed novel that can be acquired in used copies on the Internet. Used for this review was the 1960 printing by Compass Books (C70, 306 pages), a subsidiary of The Viking Press. More recent editions have appeared from Penguin Books and Vintage Classics. The novel is an absolute must for Greene fans and highly recommended for all serious readers.

graham greene was a 20th c catholic and "catholicism" is a character in his art, but like my friend hans used to tell me, the struggle with religious belief and its attendant moralisms is a valid human enterprise. in greene's hands it is of a piece. set in africa during ww2, it was part of the gestalt of the times he lived in. at the same time it was also part of the structure of his fictional enterprise and there it remains brilliantly circumscribed without ever breaking through the 4th wall. while some pray to find meaning and purpose and forgiveness in their lives, his characters in this novel are alive to the absurdities of the Church's history and its moralisms re responsibility. none of the great literature i have ever read has had such a close claim to "religious" affiliation like greene's save for some really fine jewish authors, but that's a different story :)... marilynne robinson treats of protestantism in her novels, like "gilead", as does willa cather. greene is the first and foremost novelist i think to make catholicism an obvious part of his art. great story. brilliant characters. yet the arcs of their lives are so so modern.

What is the "heart of the matter"? For me, Graham Greene ranks with Faulkner and Conrad in his unsparingly honest, yet empathetic insight into the human heart. And, not that of great men, but of ordinary people who try hard to stay right, not always succeeding, but often failing nobly. The Heart of the Matter is to me Greene's most vivid and memorable foray into this terra incognita. Scobie is noble, flawed and fully realized. The so-called "invented" world through which he walks is so richly atmospheric that it hardly seems fictional.The plot here is a bit less animated than in some of Greene's other famous novels, but the richness of character and detail keeps you involved. Ultimately, this is a book I will never forget, largely because it gave me the chance to view the world through the eyes of of another human being, which to me is truly the "heart of the matter."

Graham Greene, long known for his mysteries or westerns changes pace and direction to produce one of the very finest novels exploring humankind's faith and failings and the tremendous pressures within and outside of ourselves that come to shape our passions, behaviors, guilts ... This is the story of Henry Scobie, a quite unremarkable character. Every element of his life is in some way shaped by his earliest teachings by the Roman Catholic Church. He finds himself conflicted between the love of his mind and the love of his heart. The struggle he faces, influenced to significant degree by his faith, leads to his sense of justice. While many-a-quote comes from this brilliant novel, the one that I treasure the most comes as Scobie loses his necklace, and Greene describes it as the Saint, whose name nobody could remember. Might Scobie have been not of the lowest of spiritual development, but, perhaps, meriting martyrdom? I first read this novel in high school and, 30 years later, when provided the opportunity to pick up on my reading, I chose this as one of the first books. There are moments when the reading is quite slow and nearly as boring as Joseph Conrad (sorry, but it's true in my world). The narrative, development of Scobie's character, and plot are all masterful, making this one of the finer novels that I've read. I give this an A+ and I highly recommend reading this to anyone with an interest in spiritual development. The Power and The Glory is another Greene novel in this genre, almost as good as this.

In Penguin Great Books of the 20th Century "The Heart of the Matter" is the only Graham Greene book listed. Greene was in good company, with such companions as Golding, Kafka, and Steinbeck. Greene was certainly well prepared to write "Heart." In 1935 he and his cousin trekked across Liberia (cf. "Journey Without Maps"). During WWII, Greene worked for the Secret Service in SIerra Leone. It is not possible to write a great book without describing the environments in which the characters interact. "Heart" is set in a British colony on Africa's West Coast, with some attention paid to adjacent Vichy French territory. As we move through the book, we learn, for example, about torrid heat, torrential rains, hovering vultures, house rats and wharf rats bigger than rabbits, pesky flying and crawling insects, the transient beauty of the laterite road at sunset, a debased local black population, diamond smuggling, and Syrian (Lebanese?) merchants often of dubious integrity. We learn nothing of native life in the hinterland. Whence the title of the book? On p. 107 of my copy, Major Henry Scobie, a police Deputy Commissioner finds it absurd to contemplate happiness in a world so filled with misery: If one knew the facts, would one have pity even for the planets? If one reached what they called the heart of the matter? "Heart" is divided into three Books, each with with several Parts. In Book I several of the main characters are introduced. Edward Wilson is a newly arrived accountant, probably really a spy He is plump and has brown dog's eyes, a setter's eyes (GG detested dogs). Louise Scobie is Major Scobie's wife. The two profess love for one another, but it may be merely tolerance. Louise is inclined to books and poetry, much like Wilson with whom a liaison develops. He claims to love here and kisses her during a jaunt to an abandoned railroad station. This liaison proceeds throughout the book. But Louise ("Literary Louise") to many at the club feels she has to get away from this town, preferably by going to South Africa. Major Scobie's insurance won't pay for the passage, so he has to borrow. at four percent interest, from the Syrian entrepreneur of questionable character, Yosuf. Eventually, almost a friendship between Scobie and Yosuf develops between them. On one occasion, Scobie had to visit a distant hamlet where a young man had hanged himself. The local padre, Father Clay, said murder would have been better than suicide. In Book II, we learn of the arrival of a number of lifeboats from a torpedoed liner. Among the survivors is Mrs. Helen Rolt, a newlywed whose husband hadn't survived. Over the course of the book,Helen evolves from stamp-collecting ingenue to Scobie's mistress, to slut. As mistress, she and Scobie fall in love. But quarrels soon ensue, mainly regarding Henry's relation with Louise, who telegrams she's returning. A woman friend had informed Louise about Helen. A thread that permeates the book is Scobie's doubts about his Catholicism, even his belief in God. Father Rank isn't of much help. Religious and personal conflicts begin to wear Scobie down, and he begins surreptitiously to consider suicide. Being promoted to Commissioner doesn't help. A colleague finds out he has two years to live but reconciles himself to dying happily. Scobie feigns heart trouble. Book III pursues these themes until the final solution. Louise slugs Wilson for referring to Henry as Tiki, her pet name. Wilson continues spying and threatens to ruin Scobie. Scobie obtains a number of Evipan pills from a physician. He begins to horde these and soon has enough to kill himself. He is quickly buried--the diagnosis, angina pectoris. But Wilson finds Scobie's diary. Suicide is evident. Father Rank isn't sympathetic. Scobie is denied even a good Catholic death. Louise bitterly faces an uncertain future. Helen starts bitching around.

Written in 1948, this engrossing tale of a group of wartime Brits in a poor backwater in West Africa touches on so many human qualities that it is a chronicle of our mortality. Foremost is the perfectly presented portrait of a marriage that has turned into a lie for both Henry Scobie, the honest policeman of this coastal town, and his "literary" wife, Louise, who has become the object of pity and contempt for all the frustrated local British "club" members who constantly mind one another's business. Scobie no longer loves his wife but can't bring himself to hurting her. He simply pities her. And Louise no longer loves Henry and wants desperately to escape from West Africa, especially when she finds out that her "Ticki" has been passed up for promotion to Commissioner. The atmosphere becomes dark and twisted as a young man, Wilson, appears on the scene and, in his youthful stupidity, falls in love with Louise while he conducts secret investigations on British authorities suspected of aiding in the smuggling of industrial diamonds through Africa to Germany. Scobie is one of those suspects. A marvelously film noir portrait of a corrupt Syrian merchant, Yusef, is thrown into the mix. I can see Sidney Greenstreet doing this part to perfection in a screen adaptation. Add jealousy, desperation, a contrast of honesty and lies, sex, and the tortured feelings of a deeply religious man and you have most of what this novel contains. O yes, and then, as always, there's the brilliant writing of Graham Greene, his wonderful metaphors, crystal clear descriptions, and fantastic insights into the crabbed and self-defeating thought processes of his characters. All this equals a modern classic. My only complaint is a bit of redundancy and pedantry regarding Catholicism, a religion I cannot stomach anymore, and my personal disbelief that someone like Scobie can take Catholicism so seriously. But this is my own thing. Greene remains brilliant, original, and indeed, "the ultimate chronicler of twentieth-century man's consciousness and anxiety," or at least one of the top five.

Henry Scobie , deputy police commissioner of a West African colony during the war, is known for his scrupulous honesty and immunity to bribes in a nation riddled and ruled by corruption. But his life alters drastically when he needs to borrow money to pay for his increasingly estranged wife's passage to South Africa . Then he meets Helen Rolt, a survivor of a torpedoed ship and begins an affair that leads to the destruction of all his values and his relationship with God and the catholic church. He is tormented by guilt and the fear of being found out in a close community that thrives on gossip.....
Probably Greene's best work exploring the conflict of faith, the dogmas of religion and the realities of sin that life ceaselessly places in our paths. Greene normally irritates intensely with his musings on Catholicism ; introducing the subject and/or catholic characters that are irrelevant to the story/plot; where you feel you are being brow beaten by the convert (which Greene was) and the biggest bores about religion are always the converts (and Greene does bore) But in this novel it is a genuine thread and the crushing anxiety and guilt of Scobie are very real and powerfully portrayed.
The book is dated-very much a product of its time and era; Scobie's dithering and guilt over his affair will probably bewilder a 21st century reader for the most part, though any with strong religious beliefs will feel Scobie's sufferings. It also is a good record of life during the second world war in an imperial colony; something that was to end along with many of societies taboos (Scobie's affair ?!) post war.

Subtly gripping story about a middle-aged policeman's attempts to understand and come to terms with the intimate relationships in his life. The setting is British Western Africa during the time of the second world war. It's rather a simple story with lots of mundane events, however the intense introspection and suspense involved with the relationships of the characters is riveting and drew my attention like gravity all the way through this novel. The story explores the fluidity of what one considers "right" and "wrong", and the pitfalls of selflessness with regard to those whom we think we love.

Graham Greene made the distinction between what he called his "entertainments" --books which often took the form of thrillers or light hearted satire--and his novels--works which contained religious, philosophical or political concerns. The Heart of the Matter falls into the latter group and focuses on the theme of one's love for God versus one's love for another person or people. Scobie, a colonial police officer working in West Africa , is weighed by the responsibility and pity he feels toward his wife Louise. These feeelings lead him to compromise himself--and sin--by borrowing money from a morally suspect moneylender, so that she can relocate to a more comfortable life in South Africa. Later, Scobie becomes involved in an affair with Helen, a woman thirty years his junior who has survived forty days in the open-sea and the loss of her husband following the sinking of their ship. Upon his wife's return, Scobie becomes spiritually and psychologically tormented by his commitments to both women. These commitments, again, lead him to even greater professional and spiritual compromises.

Many people consider The Heart of the Matter, along with The Power and the Glory, The End of the Affair, The Quiet American, and Brighton Rock, among Graham Greene's greatest acheivements as a writer. However, I've never felt Heart quite equals those other works. There's something missing from the story, a type of cohesiveness, that fails to integrate the first part of the book, which revolves more around Louise, with the later part which deals more with Helen. The pacing, especially during the transition between the two main parts, is slightly off. There also seems to be an occasional conflict between Greene's natural abilities as a storyteller and his desire to explore the theme of love for God versus that of another. Greene's philosophical pursuits are stronger in this book than any other and because of this the story slightly suffers.

Taken as a whole The Heart of the Matter is a flawed masterpiece, which contains passages and scenes worthy of a master. But the book also contains occasional mis-steps that distract from the overall beauty of the story. I recommend this book wholeheartedly because it's by Greene, but do not consider it among his very best.

For the well-prepared reader, the story is outstanding. "The Heart of the Matter" is autobiographical, covering Graham Greene's time in Her Majesty's Secret Service in Africa in WWII (where by the way he was brought back to London due to less than stellar work in Africa / interpersonal relationship issues). He addresses a loveless marriage, conflicts with Catholicism, as well as many other issues with which he struggled.

All in all a great book, but enjoyed even more if you read Norman Sherry's 3-volume biography of Greene first. Also, note: you can "see" Joseph Conrad in this book. I do believe there are "events" in "The Heart of the Matter" that were taken from "Lord Jim." The sinking of a ship in which the crew and captain drowned but the ship made it to port is right out of "Lord Jim."

In light of the 2009 Somali pirate - US Navy stand-off, the book remains very, very relevant. Even in the 1940's Graham Greene was addressing issues involving Muslims.

Read a biography of Graham Greene, read "Lord Jim," then read "The Heart of the Matter."

After I read this book, I kept thinking about Scobie and his struggles with his faith or lack of it. When I was reading the novel, I didn't appreciate it as much as I do now. The complexities of his relationship with his wife, his job, and his faith have kept me thinking of different scenarios, things he could have done. Perhaps what I like best about Graham Greene's writing is that he doesn't dictate your feelings. You are free to make your own judgments of the characters. In fact, it is very easy to make arguments one way or another about what the characters believe because he doesn't spell it out for you as if you were a child. By not overwriting the characters, there is some mystery, as in real life. Can you ever truly know another person wholly? Also recommended: The End of the Affair by Graham Greene, which is even more complex and mysterious.

After I read this book, I kept thinking about Scobie and his struggles with his faith or lack of it. When I was reading the novel, I didn't appreciate it as much as I do now. The complexities of his relationship with his wife, his job, and his faith have kept me thinking of different scenarios, things he could have done. Perhaps what I like best about Graham Greene's writing is that he doesn't dictate your feelings. You are free to make your own judgments of the characters. In fact, it is very easy to make arguments one way or another about what the characters believe because he doesn't spell it out for you as if you were a child. By not overwriting the characters, there is some mystery, as in real life. Can you ever truly know another person wholly? Also recommended: The End of the Affair by Graham Greene, which is even more complex and mysterious.

This book was my first introduction to the "Octopus/Heinemann Library" editions and I really loved it. The book is the right size for the hand and the shelf. It is attractive and the binding is good. Despite there being so many novels in one book, the type is clean and easy to read, and the book is not too heavy nor awkward. I really enjoy reading one author long enough that I can get a sense of what his/her primary concerns and themes are. I am definitely going to search for Octopus/Heinemann editions of other authors. My only regret is that these books do not order the novels by publication date, which would be better in my view.

As for Graham Greene, well, he is just a lovely writer. If you enjoy prose as art form, you will like Greene. Also, all of his novels have a strong sense of place (Vietnam, Vienna, India, etc.) and time that is very satisfying.

At one point in the novel Greene's Scobie reflects on the nature of the passion that rules his life: pity, that promiscuous passion that so few realise, a passion more dangerous than love. The novel contains no love stories, but is rather about the quest of one man, a flawed man, to learn how to love rather than pity. Scobie's last words are 'Oh God I love...'. We never discover who or what he loves, but Greene's ambiguous ending ensures, at least, that Scobie loves.
This is a novel with deep and often complex themes, but it's style is engaging and accessible, as is typical of Greene. It's setting in West Africa, with all its instability and corruption, provides a backdrop for the struggles that Scobie encounters, with his wife, Louise, with his young lover, Helen, and - most importantly - with himself, his past, his memories. Of course there is also a struggle with his faith, as Greene's best novels always reflect in some way the novelist's own incessant struggle with a difficult and unrelenting faith.
It is a rich, yet painful, novel.

"The Heart of the Matter" ran a little slow sometimes but Graham Greene did a wonderful job in describing the path to what he wanted to get to. He was testing by Scobie the dedication to be righteous no matter how much corruption there was around him. He also showed how Scobie always challenged himself with his beliefs and how hard he finds it to be to step up and be himself when he started dealing with some unfamiliar characters.
A story in which shows how people could react if they are put under certain tests, and how genuine we should be in facing such tests. To be genuine with what we do, and to be courageous no matter who and what we face...
A real classic to be read and reflected upon...

What is the "heart of the matter"? For me, Graham Greene ranks with Faulkner and Conrad in his unsparingly honest, yet empathetic insight into the human heart. And, not that of great men, but of ordinary people who try hard to stay right, not always succeeding, but often failing nobly. The Heart of the Matter is to me Greene's most vivid and memorable foray into this terra incognita. Scobie is noble, flawed and fully realized. The so-called "invented" world through which he walks is so richly atmospheric that it hardly seems fictional.The plot here is a bit less animated than in some of Greene's other famous novels, but the richness of character and detail keeps you involved. Ultimately, this is a book I will never forget, largely because it gave me the chance to view the world through the eyes of of another human being, which to me is truly the "heart of the matter."

What is the "heart of the matter"? For me, Graham Greene ranks with Faulkner and Conrad in his unsparingly honest, yet empathetic insight into the human heart. And, not that of great men, but of ordinary people who try hard to stay right, not always succeeding, but often failing nobly. The Heart of the Matter is to me Greene's most vivid and memorable foray into this terra incognita. Scobie is noble, flawed and fully realized. The so-called "invented" world through which he walks is so richly atmospheric that it hardly seems fictional.The plot here is a bit less animated than in some of Greene's other famous novels, but the richness of character and detail keeps you involved. Ultimately, this is a book I will never forget, largely because it gave me the chance to view the world through the eyes of of another human being, which to me is truly the "heart of the matter."

What is the "heart of the matter"? For me, Graham Greene ranks with Faulkner and Conrad in his unsparingly honest, yet empathetic insight into the human heart. And, not that of great men, but of ordinary people who try hard to stay right, not always succeeding, but often failing nobly. The Heart of the Matter is to me Greene's most vivid and memorable foray into this terra incognita. Scobie is noble, flawed and fully realized. The so-called "invented" world through which he walks is so richly atmospheric that it hardly seems fictional.The plot here is a bit less animated than in some of Greene's other famous novels, but the richness of character and detail keeps you involved. Ultimately, this is a book I will never forget, largely because it gave me the chance to view the world through the eyes of of another human being, which to me is truly the "heart of the matter."

What is the "heart of the matter"? For me, Graham Greene ranks with Faulkner and Conrad in his unsparingly honest, yet empathetic insight into the human heart. And, not that of great men, but of ordinary people who try hard to stay right, not always succeeding, but often failing nobly. The Heart of the Matter is to me Greene's most vivid and memorable foray into this terra incognita. Scobie is noble, flawed and fully realized. The so-called "invented" world through which he walks is so richly atmospheric that it hardly seems fictional.The plot here is a bit less animated than in some of Greene's other famous novels, but the richness of character and detail keeps you involved. Ultimately, this is a book I will never forget, largely because it gave me the chance to view the world through the eyes of of another human being, which to me is truly the "heart of the matter."

What is the "heart of the matter"? For me, Graham Greene ranks with Faulkner and Conrad in his unsparingly honest, yet empathetic insight into the human heart. And, not that of great men, but of ordinary people who try hard to stay right, not always succeeding, but often failing nobly. The Heart of the Matter is to me Greene's most vivid and memorable foray into this terra incognita. Scobie is noble, flawed and fully realized. The so-called "invented" world through which he walks is so richly atmospheric that it hardly seems fictional.The plot here is a bit less animated than in some of Greene's other famous novels, but the richness of character and detail keeps you involved. Ultimately, this is a book I will never forget, largely because it gave me the chance to view the world through the eyes of of another human being, which to me is truly the "heart of the matter."

Greene is an intimidatingly good writer. A lot of the truly classic authors carry with them a certain mystique, arriving with all their major plot details spoiled, a fancy edition with an introduction by someone else. Not that all such literary classics are great, or even good (see the next review) but this type of reputation more often than not indicates a strong accomplishment. Greene is an author of that stature, but I first encountered him as a more casual, as if less celebrated author, and to an extent that still comes through in the book editions I get, the lack of major literary discussion on him I come across, and even the name. "Greene", really? Is that the name of a literary giant?

Greene is the name of a literary giant. He's one of the best, and The Heart of the Matter is very much up to form. The pace works to deliver the core struggles of the character through the plot to the reader, at a certain point in analysis looking for something as a plot-element or a character-revealing element breaks down. I didn't enjoy this quite as much as The Comedians or the Human Factor, but it's an impressive work by any light.

Ultimately this book is an account of a man who commits adultery and then suicide, believing throughout that both actions damn his soul to an eternal hell. I'm quite a few degrees away from supporting a belief in adultery, suicide or damnation, yet I still found it a very moving story, one that benefits from rendering an alien form of thought as utterly credible to me. At times a good mainstream author can offer a more complex world-building experience than a lot of science fiction ones, here it brings home how strange and complex our fellow humans can be. There's always another narrative. This is something that all good writers have to tackle to some extent, but it emerges with particular force in Greene. In part this particular scenario probably benefits from Greene's own religious philosophy, but he's able to take the commitment very seriously. Scobie deals with his situation in some very destructive ways, but he retains his own viewpoint and set of justifications, and when his mistress claims he couldn't believe in damnation for his adultery, or his wife claims he couldn't have committed suicide, they're both wrong, and wrong in a manner that shows a crucial failure of imagination. Greene's accomplishment isn't merely that he represents Scobie as a highly sympathetic and moral man, but that he shows him to be as complex and self-regarding as any other, despite the intrinsic contradictions built into his final actions.

Though as I said, not entirely in his best. One defect with worldbuilding--using again a science fiction staple for this non-SF book, which seems consistently appropriate--here is not giving enough focus on the colonial scope. The book takes place in WWII British West Africa, and there's some very good scenes on the racial bias issues inherent to that situation, but the whole thing doesn't go nearly far enough for me, doesn't engage with the real ugliness and ambivalent passions promoted by this issue, in the way Orwell renders so well. Instead Scobie comes across as largely calm and unaffected by this issue, and there's a lot of untapped potential here. Still, this book is by my standards a masterpiece.

Reminded me of and was better than: Flaubert's Madame Bovary
Reminded me of and was worse than: Coetzee's Disgrace

The quality of the writing makes this a page turner. The location is exotic, not appealing, but exotic; most of the characters are convincing, not likeable, but convincing. Scobie's wife is a pill, but Scobie's not even good enough for her. Mrs Rolt is a sad case even in this company, and Yusef is perfectly drawn - an absurd crook.

Well before the end, one realizes that it's all one long bout of a man feeling sorry for himself, resenting his religion and fighting with himself over it. He goes from one misstep to the next, and we're never once surprised to see him do it. He's a most unattractive combination of narcissism and paranoia. Worse still, he's right to be paranoid; some of those he suspects of being out to get him really are out to get him. One feels sorry for him but only for as long as it takes to become fed up with him. But it is a page turner, so one reluctantly reads on. Mrs. Scobie reveals a bit of ingenuity at the very end, but it's too late by then to think much more of her than one has all along.

Somerset Maugham isn't as highly thought of as Graham Green, but Maugham would have taken the same characters in the same place and situation and made a much more interesting story out of it.

Did I mention that it's depressing?

Enter into a world, a microcosm, of the old empire. This story takes place in a nameless West African colony during World War 2. The setting is a port city that is plagued with annoying pests and people. The author did his war service in West Africa so this nameless place might be an accurate portrait of that place and those times.

Scobie is a honest policeman and never seems to get ahead. He might be the only honest man in the colony. Until he sins and the flood gates open, ending in his death. The story starts out like a allegory to the Sodom and Gomorrah story with Scobie a parallel to Lot. But in this story Lot’s wife returns and Lot sins. This story is Catholic and is about sin and condemnation. The characters discuss God, love, death, and faith.

Much of the story is the inner dialogue of a man who is plain, has doubts and condemns himself. In the end that man dispenses God’s justice for himself, as if he couldn’t trust God to do it. The author captures the mood of cynicism in this book. From the ever present bugs, to the pounding tropical rains, to the suspicions of the people, pessimism rules this colony. Greene is a master of literature and as such he writes a thinking person’s book that explores the dark edges of morality.

The Heart of the Matter provides a wonderful insight into man's weaknesses and foibles. Yet it does so in a way which makes the reader sympathize with, rather than condemn, the main character. Through Scobie, we learn about the dangers of duplicity, and how badly a man can ruin his life, and the life of those close to him, by avoiding the inevitable decisions life forces upon us. We see how quickly a man can lose the reputation he has spent years building.
Despite these faults, I found myself sympathetic to Scobie; indeed, I even liked him. In that sense, he is like Updike's Rabbit, Sinclair Lewis' Babbitt, and Richard Ford's Frank Bascomb, all characters the readers can love "warts and all"..
Greene also provides a portrait of life in the British Empire's far-flung and forgotten regions. It is a much more sympathetic portrait that the one painted by Orwell in Burmese Days, yet it is still very revealing. Anyone who wants to start getting to know this wonderful collection of stories written by Greene would do well to start here, and to then move on to Our Man in Havana.

Having read several other books by Graham Greene, the only other author I could compare him to would be Joseph Conrad. The complexity of the characters is unmatched in any of today's literature. Like "The Power and the Glory" the main character is imperfect but ultimately heroic (not in the usual sense of the term). This is one terrific read. Don't pick it up if you're looking for light reading -- this is potent stuff.

In his inimmitable manner Graham Green has shown in this distinctly humanist novel why the dictates of heart that recognizes life as the supreme should ultimately be valued. Religion has not been rejected but in a way rather integrated to an idea of life but it extracts its price for life to claim its own place. Major Scobie didn't know that the love that never existed between him and Louise would not be honoured even by mistake after his death. He was mistaken to assume that he was setting Helen free from the sin and trouble of their love by his death. Everything remains the same vindicating Heart and even religion at the end! What a grand story telling, excellent plot and unfolding of thoughts!

This is my favorite Greene work, and his masterly skill of creating realistic characters is truly on display. This is the story of Scobie, a quite man with few aspirations, and his inner battle with religion and love. Scobie's struggle is real and powerful, and Mr. Greene captures every moment with clarity and style. I highly recommend this marvelous book to any reader.

Others on this list have explored the themes of this novel and discussed just what a work of genius it is. But I would like to add that it is also (in my opinion) Greene's most moving work. It is haunting and lovely and the characters have stayed with me through the years. This is one of those rare books that is as emotional as it is intellectual. Enjoy it.

This book was very sad and frustrating. This man named Scobie, so honest and always well-meaning, always craving peace from his self-created hell. Always he feels pity for the women he once loved, and out of the pity grows a sense of responsibility, an intense desire for them to be happy. In the end this is too much for him.

Though the religious aspect at times seemed forced to me, this is an incredible story of one man falling apart. The depth of his fall and the amount of sympathy generated in the reader reminded me of Shakespeare. At the same time, this book is an excellent philosophical discourse on the nature of love and relationships, that while pessimistic due to the nature of the book, certainly makes you think. Overall, this is one of the most complete stories involving character, plot, a strong theme and an overall strong narrative presence that I have ever read

I'm not usually one for classic British literature (or even modern British literature for that matter), but this is an excellent book. Its rare when a novel can provide its reader with a deep and philosophical theme to ponder and still produce a plot exciting enough worth turning the page for. Here Greene explores the disturbing and complex world of Catholic guilt in a tale complete with adultery, corruption, and murder. Definately a classic, highly recommended for those seeking out truely great literature.

This is another masterly novel from Greene. The setting is some African country and one really gets the feeling of a swamp which the civilised people from England slowly, but surely, sinks down into. The main character of this novel seems to be the setting.

Surely, this book is about suicide. Supposedly, Graham Greene was bi-polar, but we only see the "plus" side, I think, in his writing. He always seems so calm and even tempered, while the rest of the world goes maddeningly by at breakneck speed, truly insane and without an once of reasonableness. For example, his wonderful wife suddenly deciding she wants to live in South Africa without him and then just as suddenly returning.

Being a Catholic writer, he writes about so many moral issues. This is about the issue of suicide. And I believe his point is that the Catholic Church is morally wrong in condemning suicide, since as he says so poignantly, surely God would pity such a person, having going through the tortures of Hell to commit suicide.

One other thing in this work, which I believe is so important in the story line, but which no one else seems to mention, is the death of their 9 year old daughter in England while the protagonist is stationed in Africa. The death of a child is by far the worst experience for a human being and I think is the millstone around our hero's neck and cause of his final demise at his own hands.

Widely accepted as belonging to the upper-echelon of 20th century novels, The Heart of the Matter centers around the character of Major Henry Scobie. Scobie is an upstanding British policeman stationed somewhere in Africa (Sierra Leone?). There he resides with his wife Louise, a spoiled, soul-sucking dilettante. She proves to be a great foil for Scobie, who is revealed to be an insufferable milksop. It seems that the reason he is with Louise mostly has to do with his ardent Catholicism (see: masochism) and her uncanny ability to make his life abjectly miserable. Due mostly to his unflinching honesty in a world of corruption, Scobie has been passed over for a promotion that was deservedly his. Through a seemingly providential series of events, Scobie has his millstone of a wife shipped off and subsequently meets a young shipwreck survivor (think Lolita meets Heart of Darkness). For once in his cowardly life, Major Scobie allows himself to actually be happy and, for a brief period, finds solace in the arms of his new concubine. Alas, good things are not meant to last. Partly due to his own self-destructive tendencies and partly due to the machinations of the socially inept 'Wilson'(a sweaty poet/pervert who has designs on Louise), Scobie's world comes crashing down. He becomes indebted to Yusef, the Syrian black marketeer with a heart of gold, his wife suddenly decides to return, and he agonizes over cannabalizing his lord while not in a state of grace (see: transubstantiation). Greene introduces, unintentionally I think, his comic stylings into the latter part of the book. Scobie comes to regret the one honest thing he has done in his life and quickly destroys himself and everyone he holds dear. That is to say, he loses what little dignity he had and the reader can allow his/her self a quiet chuckle as his sorry excuse for a life comes crashing down. Laugh-out-loud funny.

James is a great author and a very eloquent writer. His books are very captivating and real to life. It is a pleasure for me to be able to collaborate with him and be able to help him develop his book covers.

James is a great author and a very eloquent writer. His books are very captivating and real to life. It is a pleasure for me to be able to collaborate with him and be able to help him develop his book covers.

There is a line somewhere in the middle of Greene's The Heart of the Matter where two charcters are discussing about a stroy they have read. One character says to the other, "This story is dull." I couldn't help but chuckle that the characters in this story could put Greene's story in such an accurate choice of words.

The Heart of the Matter does have some good insights about the depth of a man's soul, and near the end of the story we finally get some insight into this man's character, but that, unfortunatley, is short lived. There is some good ideas of man's guilt about religion and his relationship to God here, if only Greene could have figured out a better way to tie it all together.

The main problem with Greene's novel is that while you are reading it, you don't actually care about any of the cold, one dimentional characters portrayed here, with the exception of Scobie. The story takes forever to get going, and once it finally gets some steam to it, we are cheated by an over the top ending. The ending made this novel worse, in my opinion. It is not that I don't enjoy dark novels or twisted endings. In fact, some of the darkest novels are my most favorite. In those novels, however, I acutally cared about what happended in the end. This is one of the most overrated classics I have ever read. And I am sure when you get to the so called climatic, "shocking" ending, you will be thinking the same thing as I was. "Am I supposed to care?"

Grade: C-

Vintage Graham Greene, with a police inspector forced to choose between his Catholicism, a wife he endures out of pity and a lover he feels he is hurting. The characters are finely drawn, and the main character Scobie's take on living the Catholic life is fascinating. The religious context is a fixture in Greene books, and this is no exception.

Quite a downer, but a worthwhile read

I read this book while traveling in Africa. It is an amazing work. Greene's insight into everything from a bad marriage to the streets of Freetown, Sierra Leone are moving, accurate and powerful. Well-worth the time to read.