Authors similar to Graham Greene

[llall]

I've been reading a lot of Graham Greene's books recently. I particularly enjoyed 'Our Man in Havana' and 'The Quiet American'.

Can you recommend any other authors that might be of interest to me?

[Emil Miller]

I've been reading a lot of Graham Greene's books recently. I particularly enjoyed 'Our Man in Havana' and 'The Quiet American'.

Can you recommend any other authors that might be of interest to me?

The problem here is that good writers have a style that makes them unique and Greene is no exception but, although the subject matter is different, two authors who might fit the bill in terms of ambiance are Eric Ambler and John le Carré. Ambler was a contemporary of Greene and wrote gritty espionage novels set in the same period and similar to Greene's Stamboul Train and The Confidential Agent. John le Carré's down to earth style is also reminiscent of Greene although the genre is an updated version of that used by Ambler.

[dfloyd]

although Le Carre's updated style uses non-linear time frames. These are confusing to some readers. Also, the dramatisation of Le Carre's Timker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy as done by Masterpiece Stheatre, is superb. It stars Alec Guiness as George Smiley, the spy washed out by the British spy agency termed The Circus. Better than any Bond movie.

[Emil Miller]

although Le Carre's updated style uses non-linear time frames. These are confusing to some readers. Also, the dramatisation of Le Carre's Timker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy as done by Masterpiece Stheatre, is superb. It stars Alec Guiness as George Smiley, the spy washed out by the British spy agency termed The Circus. Better than any Bond movie.

John le Carré is the real thing whereas Ian Fleming's comic book character's are laughable.

[dfloyd]

taken from the Fleming novels, not those written by Hollywood.

Eric Ambler wrote several spy novels, but I believe the best is the Mask of Dimitrios (US title A Coffin for Dimitrios). It is a great work of this genre and the movie in brilliant black and white is just as good. It stars Peter Lorre and Sidney Greenstreet with Zachary Scott as Dimitrios. This movie and Le Carre's The Spy Who Came in from the Cold dramatisation are two of the best movies of this genre ever made, and, the latter, one of Richard Burton's more memorable roles.

And, back to Graham Greene, if you haven't read it yet, try This Gun for Sale (US title This gun for Hire). And watch the movie made in the early 40s. This movie made Alan Ladd a star (before he made westerns) and costars Veronica Lake (the girl with her hair over one eye). Why can't they make movies like this anymore?

[Emil Miller]

taken from the Fleming novels, not those written by Hollywood.

[QUOTE]Eric Ambler wrote several spy novels, but I believe the best is the Mask of Dimitrios (US title A Coffin for Dimitrios). It is a great work of this genre and the movie in brilliant black and white is just as good. It stars Peter Lorre and Sidney Greenstreet with Zachary Scott as Dimitrios. This movie and Le Carre's The Spy Who Came in from the Cold dramatisation are two of the best movies of this genre ever made, and, the latter, one of Richard Burton's more memorable roles.

Yes, Dimitrios is probably the best of Ambler's novels that have been filmed and the screen version of the Le Carré is in my view one of the best adaptations of any book to the screen; Richard Burton is superb as Alec Leamas.


And, back to Graham Greene, if you haven't read it yet, try This Gun for Sale (US title This gun for Hire). And watch the movie made in the early 40s. This movie made Alan Ladd a star (before he made westerns) and costars Veronica Lake (the girl with her hair over one eye). Why can't they make movies like this anymore?[/

I have read This Gun for Sale and seen the film which is worthy of the plaudits it received. The reason that they can't make films like that any more is that there is no incentive to. Once TV killed the studio system, the cinema fell into the hands of people who had no knowledge of the business and stared to sell what they made purely on hype: a situation that remains to this day.

[llall]

Thanks guys. I'll try LeCarre.