Read for Savidgereads #GreenforGran reading tribute. I had only ever read one Graham Green novel before – Brighton Rock – the ending of which has always stayed with me. Graham Greene is an author I had been meaning to read more of for a long time.
I found Stamboul Train to be a wonderfully atmospheric read, a well written adventure peopled with a variety of complex characters, several of them quite deliciously sinister. I do so like to be transported with a novel, and Stamboul Train was able to do just that wonderfully- and not just because it is set aboard the famous Orient Express. It has always been a bit of a fantasy of mine – to travel across Europe aboard the Orient Express, I’d require a first class ticket and a set of matching 1930’s luggage, oh well it’s a pretty dream.
The novel concerns a group of people travelling between Ostend and Istanbul. Myatt is a wealthy Jewish businessman who meets dancer Coral Musker aboard the train, Coral is unwell and Myatt buys her an expensive sleeper ticket so she can rest. In her naivety Coral believes her gratitude should lead to something more, and dutifully falls for Myatt and spends the night with him. Poor Coral is an innocent, and put me rather in mind of poor Rose in Brighton Rock – I feared for Coral .she believed in her love for Myatt, and while Myatt was shown to care something for Coral I knew it was only up to a point.
Myatt and Coral are drawn into the lives of other passengers, particularly that of Dr Czinner an exiled communist leader returning to Belgrade for a socialist uprising. Czinner is travelling under a new identity but is recognised by man hating journalist Mabel Warren, the slightly predatory Warren is obsessed with her beautiful companion Janet Pardoe, and sees her story about Czinner as a way of securing a better salary in the hope of keeping Janet – although she too has noticed Coral and would be quite happy to swap Janet for her.
A whistle blew, and the train trembled into movement. The station lamps sailed by them into darkness, and the doctor turned to leave her. _’If you want me again, I’m three coaches further up. My name is John, Dr John.’ She said with intimated politeness, ‘mine’s Coral Musker.’ He gave her a little formal foreign bow and walked away. She saw in his eyes other thoughts falling like rain. Never before had she the sensation of being so instantly forgotten. ‘A girl that men forget.’ She hummed to keep up her courage.
At Vienna Josef Grunlich joins the train, a long time thief, Grunlich has just killed a man during a failed robbery. When Mabel Warren leaves the train to make a phone call to dictate her exclusive, Grunlich seizes his opportunity to take her bag, and buys a ticket with her money. As the train travels on and the snow settles in, the scene is set for high drama.
I am so glad I have been prompted to finally read some more Graham Greene, I have actually gone and bought another of his novels too, whether I get around to reading The Ministry of Fear before the end of August while this reading tribute is still underway remains to be seen.
I just finished Ministry of Fear (my first Greene). I had a little trouble with it at one point, but kept going. All of a sudden it changes and was good thereafter. I will read his Travels With My Aunt Next, I believe. How soon? I’m not sure.
I’m quite looking forward to reading Ministry of Fear, whenever that might be.
I studied Greene during my first year as an undergrad and really enjoyed his work. We’ve read a couple in reading groups in more recent years and that enjoyment hasn’t diminished. Try ‘A Burnt-Out Case’ which is one of the less well known novels, but definitely one of my favourites.
Ooh thanks for the recommendation.
The only Greene I’ve read is Travels With My Aunt, which I absolutely loved, though I’ve heard it’s quite different than most of his other books. I really want to read Stamboul Train — if nothing else, because it’s set on the Orient Express. I’ve been dying to go on that train since I saw the Agatha Christie film when I was a kid.
Yes I always loved Murder on the Orient Express too.
[…] tribute, only my third Graham Greene novel ever and my second read for #GreenforGran. I read Stamboul Train earlier this month, which I also enjoyed. This novel is one of Graham Greene’s thriller style […]
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