Stamboul Train (Graham Greene, 1932)

 Graham Greene. Stamboul Train. (1932). Green called this novel an “entertainment”, and it’s certainly that. A mix of characters travel from Oostende to Stamboul on the Orient Express. Carleton Myatt’s purpose is to complete a business deal in Stamboul. The other characters all somehow cross his path. A chorus girl, a political idealist, a murderous thief, an English shop-keeper couple on holiday, and so on.
Green’s invention is prodigious, enough for several novels. The story edges close to farce here and there, but human weaknesses always jerk it back into reality. Or maybe life is a farce, and Greene adds a dash of high realism.
     There is no poetic justice here, despite Greene;s claim that it’s merely an entertainment. Greene is a ruthless observer of the failures of  human nature and the systems we’ve invented to control it. Love and betrayal, greed and generosity, political paranoia and ignorance, meanness and naivete – it’s a rich stew of humanity. Green’s deprecation of his work may been a ploy to forestall criticism. It may also have prevented recognition that it is one of those apparently second-rate books that rise to the level of art.
     I thoroughly enjoyed the book. There were two film adaptations. I think a 4- or 6-part video series might do it justice. ***