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bajohnson's review against another edition
2.0
I am a big fan of the espionage genre, so of course I had to check out Greene. I'm not impressed. I just can't get into any of his books.
delrivero's review
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
3.0
A pretty decent thriller from Graham Greene. The plot moves and there is enough characterization to care about what happens in the story. There is a part of the book that suffers a little from some clichés but nothing too serious.
There are interesting moments, like some calm observations about war and its consequences, or the rejection of that popular misunderstanding that violence is typical of human nature.
The book doesn't delve too deep and ends up being a middling work by the author, but let's be honest, any middling work by Greene is worth checking out.
There are interesting moments, like some calm observations about war and its consequences, or the rejection of that popular misunderstanding that violence is typical of human nature.
The book doesn't delve too deep and ends up being a middling work by the author, but let's be honest, any middling work by Greene is worth checking out.
leesmyth's review
4.0
I liked it - not as much as The Ministry of Fear, but it was pretty good. The main character, D., understandably has quite a bleak outlook after the losses and horrors of war, and is very unchancy to boot; and yet things work out as well for him as can be hoped for. Or perhaps even better.
doctortdm's review
3.0
Struggled to make it through this book, his writing style was interesting at first but then it became a bore.
barts_books's review
4.0
A Fantastic noir thriller from Greene. The story features a 'Confidential Agent' named D. of a war-torn European country, hinted as Spain due to the timing of its publication, his purpose is to buy coal from England before the rebels do the same to power the tanks in his war.
From the beginnings in a perpetually foggy Dover through to its climax on the south coast, Greene never drops the relentless pace and still manages to drop in his usual hallmarks.
I thought I had read all of Greene's best work but this one ranks highly in a stellar collection of stories.
From the beginnings in a perpetually foggy Dover through to its climax on the south coast, Greene never drops the relentless pace and still manages to drop in his usual hallmarks.
I thought I had read all of Greene's best work but this one ranks highly in a stellar collection of stories.
kaje's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
drdreuh's review
3.0
A curious little spy story. My expectations were high for Graham Greene novel, but "The Confidential Agent" reads more like a short story. A snippet, or sketch on the way to a more fleshed out book. Amusing, but not particularly captivating.
The London geography is fun. I'm not sure I understood a few key plot points (wait - why did she get thrown out the window), and the characters' motivations and relationships seemed forced (wait - when did this love affair launch?). ... But it was fun.
The London geography is fun. I'm not sure I understood a few key plot points (wait - why did she get thrown out the window), and the characters' motivations and relationships seemed forced (wait - when did this love affair launch?). ... But it was fun.
8797999's review against another edition
3.0
Again a bit similar to Stamboul Train, I enjoyed it but I have read better. I did enjoy the ending, abrupt as though it was.
Not one I would read again though.
Not one I would read again though.