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A review by blueyorkie
O Cônsul Honorário by Graham Greene, Maria Ondina Braga
3.0
One could believe this humorous novel, but in fact, not really. In a country in revolution, Doctor Plarr lives a small dead town, looks after its patients all day long and converses in the evening with his only English relations Doctor Humphries and the honorary consul Charley Fortnum. Charley Fortnum is a grotesque and alcoholic character who is useless for his country and makes a living from what the English state gives him. One fine day, he was accidentally kidnapped instead of the ambassador. But who would want to release prisoners of war in exchange for the release of this unknown and useless little honorary consul?
The concept of the work is cynical and funny, but the story is rather sad. We see a Dr Plarr who struggles between his English and South American origins, lives a rather dreary life and cares for more and more patients. Not believing in anything and unable to forge a real relationship with women. the honorary consul takes advantage of the system and stays alive thanks to his daily bottle. The revolutionaries are heading towards an impasse and continue their struggle, running out of steam. The embassy has nothing to do with these recriminations and attaches more importance to minor scandals (the honorary consul marries a 20-year-old prostitute.)
It's not pretty, and Graham Greene is on target when he manages to highlight all the South American miseries and revolutionary inconsistencies thanks to the kidnapping of an absurd character.
The concept of the work is cynical and funny, but the story is rather sad. We see a Dr Plarr who struggles between his English and South American origins, lives a rather dreary life and cares for more and more patients. Not believing in anything and unable to forge a real relationship with women. the honorary consul takes advantage of the system and stays alive thanks to his daily bottle. The revolutionaries are heading towards an impasse and continue their struggle, running out of steam. The embassy has nothing to do with these recriminations and attaches more importance to minor scandals (the honorary consul marries a 20-year-old prostitute.)
It's not pretty, and Graham Greene is on target when he manages to highlight all the South American miseries and revolutionary inconsistencies thanks to the kidnapping of an absurd character.