The Last Word and Other Stories (Classic, 20th-Century, Penguin) [Paperback]

Graham Greene (Author)

Book Description

Series: Classic, 20th-Century, Penguin | Publication Date: March 1, 1999

These twelve stories, dating from 1923 to 1989, represent the quintessential Graham Greene. Rich in gallows humor, they have the power both to move and to entertain. Included here are such famous stories as "The Last Word", "The News in English", "The Lieutenant Died Last", and "The Lottery Ticket", as well as his masterly detective story "Murder for the Wrong Reason".

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

YA-- This collection of 12 stories spans 66 years of creativity by this prolific writer who passed away in April, 1991. Its publication is not without a certain irony because unless unpublished works are yet to appear in print, it may indeed be Greene's "last word." It begins with a brief preface in which the author explains the reason for the inclusion of these particular stories. "A Branch of the Service" is published here for the first time. Several of the other selections appeared years ago in various literary magazines. All in some way bare the human soul. Characteristic themes of Greene's other works prevail--isolation, misunderstood love, spiritual hunger, and a certain painful ennui. There is one tongue-in-cheek piece titled "The Man Who Stole the Eiffel Tower." --Cynthia J. Rieben, W. T. Woodson High School, Fairfax, VA
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

This modest volume gathers uncollected stories from the entire range of Greene's career. The earliest dates from 1923 (!) and the latest from 1989. One of the best, "A Branch of the Service," concerning a spy unequal to the gastronomical rigors of shadowing suspects over dinner, has never been printed before. The other standout is the title story, in which an old man with amnesia learns on the day of his death that he is not only the last Christian but the last Pope as well. The rest of these dozen stories display Greene's characteristic mixture of farce and melancholy ("Grim Grin" is a common pun on his name) but will add little to his considerable reputation. Previewed in Prepub Alert, LJ 10/1/90.
- Grove Koger, Boise P.L., Id.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Penguin Classics (March 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0141181575
• ISBN-13: 978-0141181578
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5.1 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,587,990 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must-have for the Greene addict, November 29, 2001

By 

J. Rabideau (Stuck in the Loser State) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Last Word and Other Stories (Classic, 20th-Century, Penguin) (Paperback)

For we, myself included, who number among those addicted to the writing of Greene, this volume of collected stories truly falls into the 'must-have' category. Spanning almost his entire career, this represents a broad variety of stylistic and narrative approaches employed.

As an introduction to Greene, though, this may be relatively less ideal. Perhaps better might be one of his novels, or for something lighter, one of his entertainments. Though the breadth and depth of variation apparent in Greene's work is well-represented here, a better feel for the true character of his writing might be found more readily in others of his works: simply put, I really don't think the medium of a short story allows the unfamiliar reader to sufficiently develop the rich relationship with the material that I find myself desiring.

Regardless of that, this an outstanding collection of stories, the title story ("The Last Word") being one that I find particularly poignant. This volume is a very fine assemblage of material, and possesses a sense of overarching thematic unity which renders it both comparatively cohesive (in terms of short-story collections) and a joy to read. Highly recommended.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A man with a secret is a very lonely man, November 30, 2009

By 

Luc REYNAERT (Beernem, Belgium) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Last Word and Other Stories (Classic, 20th-Century, Penguin) (Paperback)

This bundle of short stories is an excellent introduction to the works of the sometimes controversial British novelist.

`The Last Word' sketches a world without religion with a jailed Pope as the last of the Christians. But, `is it possible that what this man believed may be true?'
`The News in English' and the ironic `A Branch of the Service' are intelligence service stories.
`The Moment of Truth' is a most human story about `the near approach to death', which is `like a crime one is ashamed to confess'.
`The Lieutenant died last' is a jingoist war story with an Act of Contrition at the end.
`The lottery Ticket' is a mockery of the tragic South-American political theatre, where the police officers support those politicians who pay them.
`The Murder for the Wrong Reason' is a detective story (`a bad man is not always killed for a good reason.)
`The New House' is a discussion between an architect and a proud proprietor (`Do you think I'll be the instrument for spoiling this land?')
`An Appointment with the General' is a mockery of an unsuccessful interview with a caudillo. (`the Communists are for a while traveling on the same train. So are the socialists. But it is he who is driving the train'.)

These stories of uneven quality are a very worth-while read.

4.0 out of 5 stars An enjoyable,if at times obscure, collection, April 20, 2006

By 

CDS "C" (Boston,MA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Last Word and Other Stories (Classic, 20th-Century, Penguin) (Paperback)

I picked this book up just out of curiosity. It was sitting in our "exchange" room, where people leave things they no longer want. However after having read it, it's found a new and welcome home on my bookshelf. It's a strange collection of stories, though as disparate as they seem, they do have several underlying themes, particularly human relationships, trying to understand the underlying motives of others, and also trying to understand one's significance in the face of ultimate persecution. Graham Greene is a Catholic author, and though it shines through in most of his stories, it usually is hidden in subtle undertones. Though I found some of the stories to be obscure, I enjoyed most of them.