Under the Garden

A Penguin 60s short story. Graham Greene, but not really the Grahame Greene I have read before (I acknowledge however I have only read a fraction of his work), no spies, no espionage, no vacuum cleaner salesmen. I ought to clarify here that I am fan of Greene.

The story has three parts. In the first William Wilditch (ha, Wild Itch), in his later years, is diagnosed with lung cancer, and believing the end is near visits his brother. George lives in a house that was once their uncles, where they spent time in childhood. Wilditch is reminiscing with his brother, when he is reminded of a story he wrote at school and how much it upset his mother. Recollections are faded and he and brother George recall events differently. After retiring for the evening while looking through some of his mothers old books, William finds a letter from the school responding to his mothers complaints, and then a copy of his story. He reads it, but is then struck that he left out a lot of his telling, and is suddenly aware that he is unable to determine if the events were real or a dream.
Part two, and WW sets out to write his story as he remembers it, complete and full of detail. This is the main body of the story, and tells of his several day ordeal in a tunnel under the garden, where he meets a strange man and women, and is held against his will. Strange goings on etc.
The third part of the story, takes place the morning after, where WW retraces his steps of many years ago, to try and determine whether it was real or a dream.

Well written, rich in atmosphere, a pleasure to read.