The Third Man

by Graham Greene, Martin Jarvis (Read by)

Overview

The Third Man is one of the truly great post-war films, starring Orson Welles and Joseph Cotton. A thrilling story of black-marketeering, it is set against a backdrop of Vienna in the immediate post-war era, when the city was divided into four zones amongst the major powers, Russia, Britain, France and America. Graham Greene wrote the novella first and then adapted it for the screenplay. Compelling and moving, it is written from the view of the British Chief of Police who is investigating the death of a certain Harry Lime. When Rollo Martins, a writer of Westerns, arrives in Vienna to visit his old school friend, he also becomes inextricably involved in the mystery surrounding Harry Lime.

Martin Jarvis is a widely acclaimed film, TV and stage actor who has also carved a name for himself in the world of audiobooks as a reader par excellence.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781904605287
Publisher:	Canongate Books
Publication date:	10/01/2004
Pages:	1
Product dimensions:	5.63(w) x 4.92(h) x 0.94(d)

About the Author

Graham Greene (1904-91) was an English author, playwright and literary critic. His most notable literary successes include The Quiet American, The Power and the Glory and Brighton Rock.

Date of Birth:

October 2, 1904

Date of Death:

April 3, 1991

Place of Birth:

Berkhamsted, England

Place of Death:

Vevey, Switzerland

Education:

Balliol College, Oxford

Editorial Reviews

Still, for me, the best thriller ever written. Just the thing to listen to on the flight to Vienna - Jarvis reads it perfectly.

The Guardian Sue Arnold

The narration is superb...taut and powerful.

The Daily Telegraph

Greene's novella, or "entertainment," was written in 1950 as a sort of preliminary draft for a screenplay and was not actually intended to stand alone as a written work. The motion picture, stated Greene, is better than the story because it is the story in its finished state, and it is the film, starring Joseph Cotten and Orson Welles, that most people will remember. This audiobook, however, brings the story to life very effectively, with all its suspense, odd turns of plot, and intriguing characters placed in the powerful setting of post-World War II Vienna. Murder, racketeering, mystery, and subterfuge combine for a compelling tale that is simple, economical, concise, and very satisfying. Reader Martin Jarvis communicates the mood and pace with intensity and skill and good character differentiation. Chapter breaks and side ends are marked musically by, what else, the famous zither-performed theme song. The story, complete on two cassettes, will please patrons who prefer a shorter commitment. Recommended for all popular collections.--Harriet Edwards, East Meadow P.L., NY

Library Journal