Course Details

620: Graham Greene's The Quiet American

July 15, 17, 18, and 19, 2019
1:45 PM - 3:15 PM
In-Person

We will read and discuss Graham Greene's provocative novel The Quiet American (1956), and view the second movie version of 2002 with Michael Caine. Greene was a world traveler, journalist, film critic, and screenwriter, as well as a prolific and celebrated British novelist. This book about the beginnings of the Vietnam War is a combination of thriller, love story, and political statement. We'll use the handy Viking Critical Edition, with lots of background on Vietnam, Greene, reviews, and criticism. The novel is about 180 pages long; try to read at least parts 1 and 2 before the first class meeting. The book is exciting, entertaining, and profound, and the movie is terrific.

Class Type: Lecture and Discussion

Class Format: TBA

Hours of Reading: Reading prior to first session (See Description.)

Study Group Leader(s):

Elaine Showalter

Elaine Showalter is Professor Emerita of English at Princeton University. She is the author of ten books and over 300 book reviews in British and American periodicals including the Times Literary SupplementThe Guardian, The New York Times Book Review, and The Washington Post.

Reading List:

The Quiet American (Graham Greene) | 1955: Viking Penguin | ISBN: 978-0-14-024350-5 | Required