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Brighton Rock Audiobook
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(3.47) - 21 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
Originally published in 1938, Graham Greene’s chilling exposé of violence and gang warfare is a masterpiece of psychological realism and often considered Graham Greene’s best novel. It is a fascinating study of evil, sin, and the “appalling strangeness of the mercy of God,” a classic of its kind.
Set in Brighton, England, among the criminal rabble, the book depicts the tragic career of a seventeen-year-old boy named Pinkie whose primary ambition is to lead a gang to rival that of the wealthy and established Colleoni. Pinkie is devoid of compassion or human feeling, despising weakness of the spirit or of the flesh. Responsible for the razor slashes that killed Kite and also for the death of Hale, he is the embodiment of calculated evil. As a Catholic, however, he is convinced that his retribution does not lie in human hands.
He is therefore not prepared for Ida Arnold, Hale’s avenging angel. Ida, whose allegiance is with life, the here and now, has her own ideas about the circumstances surrounding Hale’s death. For the sheer joy of it she takes up the challenge of bringing the infernal Pinkie to an earthly kind of justice.
When finished, the listener is sure to ponder some lofty moral issues to which Greene, a Catholic writer, withholds easy judgments.
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"Loved this book. LOVED IT. I haven't been so into a novel in a long time and it was really nice to have something I couldn't pull myself away from. It was also a nice break from all of the science fiction that I've been reading lately. "
— Amy (5 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
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“In this classic novel of murder and menace, Graham Greene lays bare the soul of a boy of seventeen who stalks Brighton’s tawdry boardwalk with apathy on his face and murder in his heart.”
— Nobel laureate J. M. Coetzee -
“In a class by himself…the ultimate chronicler of twentieth-century man’s consciousness and anxiety.”
— William Golding, Nobel Prize–winning author -
“A superb storyteller with a gift for provoking controversy.”
— New York Times -
“Greene had the sharpest eyes for trouble, the finest nose for human weaknesses, and was pitilessly honest in his observations…For experience of a whole century he was the man within.”
— Independent -
“Why does this bleak, seething and anarchic novel still resonate? Its energy and power is that of the rebellious adolescent, foreshadowing the rise of the cult of youth in the latter part of the 20th century.”
— Guardian
Brighton Rock Listener Reviews
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Scott, 8/6/2020
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" My first Graham Greene novel. Enjoyed the style, characters, and pace. Many layers within the story and worth a read. "
— Joel, 4/26/2011 -
" Wow. Intense. Still reeling.<br/>LOVED the ending :-) "
— A.J., 4/21/2011 -
" Greene uses a gang-murder-thriller to discuss Catholic guilt, and Good & Evil vs. secular Right & Wrong. He is a master. Now it's a film starring Helen Mirren? Can't wait! "
— Katie, 4/11/2011 -
" I'm a big fan of John Banville, and I have a feeling this an author he tries to emulate. For a fairly simple thriller, Greene creates a collection of characters of remarkable depth which elevate this book above the genre. "
— Aaron, 4/6/2011 -
" Part thriller-murder mystery, part morality tale, Greene's 1930s-era novel is a plot-driven consideration of the collision between Roman Catholic belief in sin and evil and secular notions of ethics and morals. "
— Emily, 3/30/2011 -
" I liked the pace of the book and the writing was pleasurable to read. "
— Surfing, 3/21/2011 -
" Unengaging characters and a boring plot. I've liked other Graham Greene books but this one just didn't do anything for me. "
— Angela, 3/11/2011 -
" I did not like this book at all! Perhaps, I expected more since the reviews were so good but I had to really push myself to finish. "
— Ann, 3/4/2011 -
" If you were brought up Catholic, then you will get more out of this book than all those athiests out there. "
— Jenny, 2/3/2011
About Graham Greene
Graham Greene (1904–1991) was an English novelist, short-story writer, and playwright. He served with the British secret service during the Second World War. His novels are often set in places in a state of seedy decay, and many of his locations, such as Vietnam in The Quiet American and Cuba in Our Man in Havana, became international crisis spots. Most of his novels have been filmed, including The Third Man, which the author first wrote as a film treatment. He was named Companion of Honour and received the Order of Merit, among numerous other awards.
About Richard Brown
Richard Brown (1937–2005) (a.k.a. Joseph Porter), was a former ballet dancer, actor, and popular audiobook narrator. Born in England, Richard came to the United States early in his career and performed with numerous regional ballet companies. After retiring from the ballet, he pursued a career in acting and recorded dozens of audiobooks for numerous publishers.