Brighton Rock

By: Graham Greene

Narrated by: Richard Brown

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 17-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.

©1938 Graham Greene, renewed 1966, 1970 by Graham Greene (P)1990 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

“In a class by himself…the ultimate chronicler of twentieth-century man’s consciousness and anxiety.”—William Golding, Nobel Prize–winning author

ok story

some stories are better read instead of f listened to, and this might be one. I didn't like the tone of the reader, it was harsh and hard to listen to.

Cold as stone

slow and at points grating, this rewarded by unlatching a window onto evil, onto common sense too

Theological thriller

Not just a question of justice for murder, but the nature of good and evil, of God and the Church are under investigation in this taut, wonderfully written story of twisted young love.

GG has two classics; this isn't one.

In fact it is dry, choppy, and boring.

Greene is only masterful when he is hating Americans: The Quiet American and Our Man in Havana.

Good book, strange narrator choice

I think it’s a compelling story and there are some great sentences... but it took me months to get through it. I’d give up and then come back again, spurred by some sense of duty or masochism. I came back for the writing, I gave up because the narrator sounds like he’s got a sinus infection and is reading everything in quotes, with no sense of the musicality of the language, or the natural rhythm or phrasing of the dialogue.. all of which is subjective of course, but still.
I suppose I’m spoiled by the production that goes into more contemporary audio book recordings.
As for the book itself, there are just a lot of really timeless observations of human nature and some brilliant phrases - what I come to fiction for. At least partly. If you’re looking for a protagonist to sympathize with you’ll be disappointed. But believable characters and starkly believable scenarios.

A very enjoyable read

I was recommended this by my nephew who is reading it for his honors English class in high school. I really enjoyed it. The story telling was engaging and the characters really came to life. The struggle for the soul in each of the characters made it hard to take breaks in the book.

Goodness, mercy, and gangsters eating candy

A ruthless and intelligent allegory of modern youth, circa 1950s, and the understanding and misunderstanding of their own actions and choices. Excellent writing as in all Graham Greene’s books.

Narrator is great

Not sure what other reviewers object to. l thought the narrator was very capable and well matched to the book.

A Masterpiece

Once again Greene creates vivid characters who the reader feels sure actually exist. This may be among his best, I say may be only because I still have a few more to read!!! Bravo.

Anti-Semitic

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

I am not sure why they chose to record the original version of this book, which is full of ugly anti-Semitic invective, when Greene himself repented and edited out that content in later editions.

Would you be willing to try another book from Graham Greene? Why or why not?

Not by this publisher.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

He seemed to mix up the different voices at times and I couldn't tell who was saying what.

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

This is a very interesting novel spoiled by anti-Semitic content, which Greene tried to rectify during his lifetime. Why anyone would go back and re-inject such objectionable content into a book whose author had removed it is beyond me.

Any additional comments?

Yuck.