The Captain and the Enemy

A short novel, and a quick read from Greene - his last published novel (1988).

Greene does espionage well - most of my favourites of his books seem to be espionage.

He tells the story well, framed by the main character writing the story of his life from memory, and constantly reminding us of his unreliability to remember accurately. It starts as a young boy in boarding school, when he is visited by a stranger knows only as ‘the captain', who brings him from school to London to live as a surrogate son with a woman named Liza. They rename him ‘Jim' as Victor isn't seen as a beneficial name, whereas The Captain changes the name he uses frequently.

As Jim grows up he weighs his relationship with The Captain, Liza and his father (referred to as ‘The Devil') whom The Captain and Liza both have history with. The Captain is characterised by his frequent absences, regular cheques of varying values which he sends to Liza, and his unusual behaviour.
Eventually, as a young man Jim follows The Captain to his current exotic location - Panama, where Jim comes to terms with the things The Captain is wrapped up in.

Always a good read, Graham Green.

4 stars.