The Third Man

by Graham Greene

A haunting novel with an unusual mix of comic and tragic scenes. The Third Man is a post war tour through the war-smashed city of Vienna, its society, its personality and its personalities.

Rollo Martins is a recent arrival in Vienna, who arrives at the request of an old friend, Harry Lime.

Vienna - a city of Superficies

Rollo finds a city which is unpredictable, polite, unwelcoming, rough and charming - a mysterious city where everyone encountered seems to be hiding their motives, and where nothing is quite as it seems.

Above all it is a city devoid of the presence of his friend, for Harry Lime is not there to meet him at the airport as he expected.

The Mystery of Harry Lime

As the mystery of what happened to Harry Lime begins to be revealed, so also does the real truth of who was Harry Lime begin to emerge.

The Third Man is a book with an exceptionally well constructed plot, excellent dialogue and characters who seem more real than mere inventions of a talented writer.

Greene has a way of maintaining mystery and suspense right throughout the novel and of maintaining a good balance between the various elements of the novel whether they be romance or tragedy, revelation or reflection, action or contemplation.

In spite of an awkward narrative style in a few places, this is a highly satisfactory read from start to finish.