The Power and the Glory

Rating:
Summary: An Excellent Read
Review: The Power and The Glory by Graham Greene is quite simply one of the best novels in 20th century English literature. It is based on the author's travels in Mexico during the revolutionary uphevals of the first half of the 20th century.

The setting is in a Mexican state that has outlawed the Catholic Church and forced all priests to either marry or be shot. This leaves only two priests in the entire state: one captitulates and marries, the other is the whiskey priest (an alcholic who has, among other things, fathered an illegitamate child) who decides to try to escape. Although most of the people he comes into contact with disdain his presence, he feels bound to serve them in his priestly capacity. Even though he is a horrible example as a priest (and the children will most likely form their views of the Catholic faith from him), he still, by virtue of the sacrament of Holy Orders has the power to say Mass and give the body and blood of Christ to the people, hear their confessions, forgive their sins and baptize their children and feels duty bound to do these things despite the great risk to his safety and his own feelings of complete wretchedness and inadequacy.

Hounding the whiskey priest's trail is the most pious of athiests, the lieutenant who sees the extermination of the Catholic Church and the priests in particular as the first step towards a new world free from superstition and the corruption (both real and imagined) that Church imposes on his native Mexico.

The book starts off slowly, but once it gets going, Greene makes it almost impossible to put down. Although all of the main characters are either anonymous or known by their first name, Greene portrays them (and the Mexican state) so vividly that the reader almost feels like he/she is really a part of each scene (which might be why many of Greene's novels have been successfully translated to the silver screen). John Updike relates in his introduction that a woman who endured the Mexican persecutions of the Church who read The Power and The Glory afterwards, reportedly said prayers for the soul of the whiskey priest at her next Mass. I cannot think of a higher compliment to any author.

The highlight, for me anyway, was the exchanges between the lieutenant and the whiskey priest after the priest is captured. The righteous indignation of the lieutenant and the gentle, erudite answers of the priest make the last few chapters of the book virtually impossible to put down.

I highly recommend The Power and The Glory as a great book exploring the topics of sin, grace, duty and sacrifice in a manner that appeals not only to Catholics but to people of all faiths or no faith at all.

Rating:
Summary: Awesome!!
Review: Graham Greene, writing The Power and the Glory, has a written a literary masterpiece with many themes, but one overall point..The Catholic Church is more than the sum of it's people.

Set in Mexico, about the 1930s, this story talks about the Church being outlawed by the state as a source of greed and oppression. The priests are given the options to marry or be shot. We pick up the story when there are two priests left in Mexico, as the others have all been shot or have fled the country. One priest, is a sad and lonely creature, eaten up with guilt over his choice to marry. He hates his state of life, hates his wife, hates the taunts of children, but mostly hates himself for capitulating to the marriage instead of being a saint for God. The other priest, and main character of the story, is the 'Whiskey priest'. The author gives him no name, but tells his story through his interactions with others.

The Whiskey priest is on the run through Mexico. He is a self-described bad priest, an alcoholic, and father to an illegitimate child. Yet, some amount of grace remains in him for he finds himself to be too much of a coward to turn himself in and be shot, which would effectively be the sin of suicide, and yet too good to turn his back on an ill person calling for last rites - even though it means missing his chance to escape the country and the policeman who hunts him.

The story is too rich and complex to describe completely. It's themes are the good people who do bad things, the intentions of people, and the power of God to turn evil to his good purposes. I strongly urge everyone to read this book. It is a slim book with very accessible writing, but the power of it's story will change how you think about the Church, people, and the nature of good and evil forever.

Rating:
Summary: Romans 7:24-25
Review: For many years I had promised myself to read The Power and the Glory. Finally I did and now, having fully expected to read a powerful and profoundly moving classic, was surprised at how much better it was than I had even expected. I am now in the process of going back and very slowly re-reading and meditating on certain passages as I would an exquisite poem or passage from the Bible. I am in complete agreement with the other reviews that praise this book, save perhaps the reader who couldn't put it down on account of the suspense. I had the advantage (or disadvantage) to know generally how it ended, so I could afford to be more patient. And, now, being familiar with the entire plot, I can go back and more wittingly relish some of the scenes in the book. The account of his night in a prison cell with so-called "thieves and murderers," a copulating couple, an Indian boy, an old man whose bastard child had been taken from him by priests and taught to hate him, and a "pious woman," all of whom become simultaneously his congregation, his confessor, and his protector, is up there with Dostoevsky, Dickens or Hugo.

(...)I am sympathetic to the wisdom and customs of all Christian denominations, and, among other things, a devotee of outstanding Christian fiction such as that by C. S. Lewis, Charles Williams, Flannery O'Connor, etc. It is interesting that I find the best of modern Christian fiction in English to have been written by either Roman Catholic or Episcopalian writers, for whom the Mysteries and Sacraments are more magical and moving than for their more Reformed brethren. I would counsel my fellow Protestants, then, to set aside all your doctrinal rectitude and purity while you read this story and read it as though you were going to talk it over with Christ when you got done...and then do so.

It does not require a mature faith to read and understand this book. It does not require a good Biblical background. Nor a good background in history. Although all of these things will enrich your reading. What it requires is compassion. There is genuine suspense in this book, but for some folks there will not be nearly enough to keep them reading. "Who cares if the authorities catch and kill the priest? Good riddance!," they may think. If you try reading this book and become rather disgusted by the characters, and thereby discouraged from reading further, then you are not ready for this book. Put it down and come back to it later when you have more patience with human frailty, because if there is anyone to admire in this story, you will probably not recognize Him until after it is finished.

Rating:
Summary: Stirs the soul!
Review: This was a beautiful novel about love, sacrifice, and redemption. As for this book's fine literary qualities, I can't say anything to improve upon what others have written. However, as a Catholic, I was particularly moved by the book's religious themes. I was impressed with Greene's use of the "Whisky Priest" to remind us that God does not use human standards in choosing the agents of his grace. As with Moses (who murdered an Egyptian), St. Peter (who denied Christ three times), and King David (who committed murder to satiate his lust), Greene's priest is a deeply flawed individual. Despite his shortcomings, however, the priest possesses a redeeming quality: an acute awareness of his own wretchedness. This humility before God, I believe, is what allows the priest to cling to his faith where many of his peers have fallen by the wayside. The priest does not presume to defy or doubt God when faced with adversity. Rather, he obediently maintains a "faith working through love"--even when it is mechanical and forced. In fact, it is obedient love for his fellow man that brings the novel to its climax. In the end, we find the sorrowful priest lamenting the fact that he will meet God empty-handed. However, unbeknownst to the priest, his obedience has made an eternal difference in the lives of others (as Greene deftly shows us when finally weaves tangential side-stories together in the denoument). Thus, while avoiding melodrama, Greene is able to convey a powerful Christian truth: In this life we may never realize how God's grace combined with our obedience has influenced the lives of others. This was a dark but ultimately inspiring book and I highly recommend it.

Rating:
Summary: Poetry
Review: This is a modern classic. It is a story of how hope survives. Some passages brought me to tears. Updike's introduction is wonderful as well. Read it..

Rating:
Summary: The Priest With No Name
Review: No, he's not a gunslinger, he's one of the most unforgettable characters in literature. It's a story about good and evil without a single false note of sentimentality. Dostoevsky would have loved it. The humor is macabre, ironic, and serves as a great counterpoint to the action. Too many instances to mention, though the passage where a mother reads a sanitized version of the suffering of the Ever So Brave Saints to her child, while a real martyr is being led to the firing squad is outstanding.

The setting is Mexico in the 30's when Christianity was outlawed. The Mexican revolution which began in 1910 and wound down by the 40's claimed over one million civilians murdered by both sides. Or, to be more accurate, by every side; since there were lots of armed bands of 'patriots' willing to shoot or torture whoever disagreed with them.

Into this mayhem of chaos Greene sets a priest, the last in his province, who is fleeing incognito trying desperately to reach the border.

In another twist of irony, Greene's novel was privately condemned by The Vatican curia. (A pubic denunciation would have given him publicity. ) The curia's objection being that the priest is a sinner (Yeah --So?) Greene later recounted how he was summoned to Westminster where a very embarassed cardinal read him the letter of condemnation. Embarassed because he knew what it took some time for the curia to discover, that this is one of the greatest novels of the century.

Granted the "Whiskey Priest" as he is called, is hardly a heroic figure. His moniker comes from tipping the bottle much too frequently. He's also fathered an illegitimate child who hates him, and whose love he wants more than anything in the world. He's a fairly nice inoffensive guy who likes to do sleight of hand tricks to amuse his friends, enjoys prestige and creature comforts, "The Whiskey Priest" is a bit of a weakling and a coward.

In other words, he could have gone out on double dates with St. Peter. . .

And, like his famous predecessor, because he is a priest, his office overwhelms all his weaknesses. After he makes his escape and finds himself drifting into a respectable torpor, he meets a 'Judas' and thanks God that he must go back, even if it means his death.

A remarkable tale of reluctant heroism.

Rating:
Summary: Awesome
Review: Hello reader. One thing i should tell you if you consider to read "The Power And The Glory" by Graham Greene: This book is marvelous and if you start reading it in the evening, you will not cut until you have finished the book. The story is thrilling and exciting. It's amazing how you can tremble, run, fear with the priest. You can feel this urgency of not getting identified or caught by anyone. It is a bit difficult to read though, due to the marginal stories like the one of Mr. Tench. But still the main story is really challenging, it makes you humble before God, to whom still belongs all the power and the glory.

Rating:
Summary: Amazing
Review: I came across this book only a few days ago while browsing at my local library. It was five minutes to closing. I had "For Whom the Bell Tolls" in my hands, but something reminded me that I had wanted to check out the book about the Whisky Priest . . . . Since then I have been engrossed in this tale. By coincidence I had just finished reading C.S. Lewis' classic tale of temptation, "The Screwtape Letters," just the day before beginning "The Power and the Glory". Whereas Lewis, to great affect, uses humor to profoundly portray temptation, Greene, to great affect, tells the story of a sinful priest on the run from persecution in Mexico. My only regret in having picked up Greene's book is that I think it could be a long time before I find a book that affects me so much.

Rating:
Summary: The Pwoer and Glory
Review: Faith hard. Belief is hard. Being a priest has got to be hard^2. Sad book, but both readable and in some odd sense contributing to sense. I'm not sure I understand it and will come back for a re-read in a year. It is that kind of book - one-pass don't cut it.

Rob

Rating:
Summary: A disappointing ending
Review: I'm always slightly hesitant criticising a novel written by such a well respect novelist but in this case I am forced to do so. I enjoyed the novel, although I found it slightly boring (probably a reflection on me opposed to Greene) until I reached the frankly disappointing ending.

Here, I was disgusted that Greene would allow his writing to conform to such a stereotypical happy ending. I really hope that I'm not spoiling the for anyone but the abrupt change in the Priest's character and the idea that he is suddenly a good man, infuriated me. If Greene allowed his character to realise that he was only human and that his flaws were an expected consequence, then fine I could have accepted his meeting with the luitenant. But no. The idea that he has suddenly rediscovered God and was somehow christ like in his sacrifice (acting out of duty, etc. etc.) really upset me, and to be honest, stole any enjoymant that I had previously gained from the book.

I don't think you have to be religious to enjoy the novel, but it would certainly help. However, if you are at all cynical, which I openly confess to being, you will also be disappointed by the ending of the book, and lose faith in Greene's capabilities as a writer.