Μέχρι πριν ένα μήνα δεν ήξερα καν ότι είχε μεταφραστεί στα ελληνικά, μέχρι που το βρήκα με ένα ευρώ σε παλαιοπωλείο. Χάρηκα, γιατί όσο να'ναι ο Γκράχαμ Γκριν έχει γίνει από τους αγαπημένους μου συγγραφείς, και όσο περισσότερα βιβλία του υπάρχουν στα ελληνικά, τόσο το καλύτερο για μένα. Αν και το συγκεκριμένο δεν είναι από τις πιο γνωστές δουλειές του και ούτε από τις καλύτερες, με άνεση βάζει κάτω πολλά βιβλία άλλων συγγραφέων. Μέσα σε 120-130 σελίδες (υπάρχει και μια μεγάλη εισαγωγή που δεν την μετράω), κατάφερε να γράψει μια δραματική ιστορία με σασπένς και βαθύτερα νοήματα. Πως έχουν τα πράγματα: Είμαστε στον Δεύτερο Παγκόσμιο Πόλεμο και σ'ένα στρατόπεδο αιχμαλώτων των Ναζί στην Γαλλία, μια ομάδα αντρών κρατείται φυλακισμένη. Μια μέρα οι Ναζί αποφασίζουν να εκτελέσουν τρεις από αυτούς. Ένας από τους άντρες που τράβηξε τον κλήρο, ήταν ο Σαβέλ, ένας αρκετά πλούσιος άντρας. Δεν το πήρε καθόλου καλά. Άρχισε να εκλιπαρεί τους τυχερούς που δεν βρέθηκαν ανάμεσα στους μελλοθάνατους, φωνάζοντας ότι δίνει ολόκληρη την περιουσία του για ανταλλαγή! Τρελό, αλλά βρέθηκε ένας τύπος που δέχτηκε να πάρει την θέση του. Έγιναν οι σχετικές ενέργειες μεταξύ τους για την μεταφορά της περιουσίας κλπ. Ο Σαβέλ την γλίτωσε. Λίγο καιρό μετά επιστρέφει στο σπίτι που χάρισε για την ζωή του και εκεί θα βρει την αδερφή του ανθρώπου που πήρε την θέση του... Διάφορα γεγονότα θα λάβουν μέρος στο σπίτι αυτό. Πραγματικά πολύ ενδιαφέρουσα και εξαιρετικά γραμμένη νουβέλα, που διαβάστηκε απνευστί σε κάτι παραπάνω από δυο ώρες. Η γραφή είναι το κάτι άλλο, άκρως ιδιαίτερη και άνετη. Δεν υπήρχε και πολύς χώρος για να αναπτυχθούν και πάρα πολύ οι χαρακτήρες της ιστορίας, δεν μπορώ να πω όμως ότι δεν είχαν το ενδιαφέρον τους. Σε γενικές γραμμές πρόκειται για ένα ακόμα καλό βιβλίο και επιβεβαιώνει το πόσο ξεχωριστός και τρομερός συγγραφέας είναι ο Γκράχαμ Γκριν.
It is said that the truth will set you free, but Graham Greene contrives a complex morality tale in THE TENTH MAN that asks, free from what?It is true that the two detainees who own pocket watches in the Paris Gestapo prison have power over the other thirty men, but their power is replete with fear that their deceit will be found out. You see, they do not always remember to wind the watches, so predicting the death hour of seven o'clock in the morning becomes a lie.Among the prisoners is an insecure lawyer, Jean-Louis Chavel who offers his personal wealth and property to anyone who will assume his fate...death by firing squad in the morning. He has drawn one of three marked ballots assuring his extinction in exchange for good behavior from the civilian population. A young man named Janvier offers his life in exchange for the security Chavel's wealth will provide his sister and mother after his death.The initial power Chavel experiences in the bargain will later produce anxiety that the freedom he gained by cowardice and cunning will become known to his contemporaries. His escape from death has not set him free! Where can he go after the war, and how will he earn a wage with the dishonor he has brought on himself?Chavel, penniless and shamed, finds his way back to his old home and the new occupants designated in the contract with Janvier. Theresa Mangeot and her mother now live in his home, and it is to their generousity that he begs for an unpaid position in service to them. His deceit continues when he realizes that Theresa hates the man who took her brother away from his family, so he presents himself with an altered identity. Carosse, with a long criminal history, appears on the rural estate claiming to be Chavel, not realizing how vile that name is to Theresa. His cunning and protective concern for Theresa wins her over to the detrament of her relationship with the real Chavel. The deceitfulness and cowardness of the lawyer Chavel must end to protect Janvier's sister and mother from this interloper. What will he discover about truth that had failed him before? Greene seems to posit that truth provides freedom from self, not circumstances, but only if one finds the courage to look at his choices and consequences and make changes for the future. Highly Recommended!
What do You think about The Tenth Man (1998)?
A tiny book, so short and concise that it was over before I knew it. It's one of Greene's classic human dramas, set in a very simple scenario, and almost reads like a film treatment, which apparently he thought it was. When he was told about its being found in the MGM vaults in 1983, all he remembered was writing a few pages to pitch to a director, but in fact it was a complete short novel, published as is. I think this may have contributed to my reaction to it: I liked it, and the characters were just as well-drawn as any of his others, but there seemed to be something missing. I think the book is too brief to truly engage a reader, and there aren't really enough characters to sustain a full-length story.Still, Greene is the master of slow-burn desperation and the tragic ending, and this book is no exception. You feel for the pathetic protagonist even while you scorn him, which I think is a pretty accurate description of most people's reaction to most other people, in some way or another. I find Greene to be one of the most truthful writers of people in fiction, however depressing that might be.
—Leah
Added 1/23/14._The Tenth Man_ by Graham Greene. (keeping it in mind)This book (first published in 1985) was adapted to film (1988 TV Movie). The movie (which I viewed on the MGM TV channel) was compelling. Anthony Hopkins was excellent in the role of the tenth man. Kristin Scott Thomas was perfect in a supporting role.http://www.amazon.com/Tenth-Man-Antho..."Anthony Hopkins stars in this glossy TV adaptation of Graham Greene's The Tenth Man. The scene is Paris, during the Nazi occupation. Hopkins plays a French lawyer who is sentenced to be executed as a reprisal for the activities."http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0096243/?..."Based on the novel of the same name by Graham Greene, this is a story of a French advocate Chavel who, while imprisoned by the Germans during the occupation, trades his material possessions to another prisoner in exchange for his life when condemned to the firing squad."I've always enjoyed books by Graham Greene. I should try this one. I first heard about it via the MGM Channel when they were airing the film on 1/23/14.INTERESTING NOTE: Graham Greene also wrote a book entitled: The Third Man (first published in 1948). A film came out in 1949.http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0041959/?...https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Thi...
—Joy H.
This is up to the usual standard of Graham Greene. It is probably an accidental novel, having been discovered by MGM in their vast archives, written by Greene when under contract as a scriptwriter. It is published with the respect that Greene's stature warrants. He had forgotten about it and didn't think that it constituted a novel, because, of probable format and perceived insufficient length. How wrong he was! It is a great read and the accompanying notes provided, some by Greene himself, explain the providence of the novel and it's storyline. I found its brevity and quality just added to the entertainment provided, and together with the imaginative plot, proved what a talent Graham Greene really was. What other forgotten treasures are there out there? A must for Greene fans, but, a good addition to any library.Detailed professional reviews: beware some may view them as plot spoliers!http://reviewsindepth.com/2010/03/the...http://allreaders.com/book-review-sum...
—Steve Petherbridge
