A review by nglofile
The End of the Affair by Graham Greene
4.0
A fabulous performance of a layered masterwork. This is a story that could only be told with a first-person point of view, and the contradictions in Maurice enhance the reader's experience of information as it is revealed. Greene's dreamy, reflective prose eases us into complicated themes of desire, love, faith, and betrayal. The originality of the structure, the deft exploration of jagged emotions, and the unexpected deepening of secondary characters into complex, essential players all contribute to a haunting, provocative treatise on the part we play in our own lives, how we connect to others, and what God may or may not ask of us.
audiobook note: Firth inhabits Maurice with an intelligence, a vulnerability, and a put-upon arrogance that adds much to our understanding of who he is. Knowing the actor's voice, I expected this would be a successful production. What I hadn't fully credited was the impact of Firth's expert subtleties. This is not a case of a celebrity winning praise solely because of past roles or popularity; this is a tour de force in single-performer theatre.
audiobook note: Firth inhabits Maurice with an intelligence, a vulnerability, and a put-upon arrogance that adds much to our understanding of who he is. Knowing the actor's voice, I expected this would be a successful production. What I hadn't fully credited was the impact of Firth's expert subtleties. This is not a case of a celebrity winning praise solely because of past roles or popularity; this is a tour de force in single-performer theatre.