Monsignor Quixote (Penguin Classics)

In "Monsignor Quixote" Graham Greene is at his best yet again regaling us with his infectious humor. The book compares favorably to Greene's other entertainments like "Travels with My Aunt" and one of my favorite short stories "A Shocking Accident," (Read it. You'll be glad you did). Father Quixote, a bumbling priest, and Sancho Panza, a former communist mayor of the village, are the protagonists in this comical tale that takes place in 1960s Spain. Following father Quixote's hospitality for a high-ranking Italian bishop and an assortment of amusing events, he's promoted to the title of monsignor to the utter surprise of his local bishop who considers him an idiot. To purchase purple socks and bib, insignia of a monsignor, father Quixote and Sancho head to Madrid on the priest's car named Rocinante after the steed in "Don Quixote." On the trip they bring along plenty of food and wine to abet their conversation. Father Quixote is a humble man who is oblivious to temptation, mistakes a condom for a balloon, has never seen a porno and is surprised to know he's staying in a brothel. His only excess is considering himself a descendant of Don Quixote. If one's familiar with Cervantes' masterpiece one would notice the parallels in the book's plot. Unlike traditional Catholic priests, father Quixote is beset by doubts about faith, love, temptation and forgiveness that often test his faith. I rate "Monsignor" higher than "Travels" which was a romp with "Our Man in Havana" a distant third. Read the first 30 pages. You'll be hooked!

Recently, I watched an old VHS recording of the Masterpiece Theater or PBS or BBC production of 'Monsignor Quizote.' The quality of the recording was painful to watch, but Alec Guiness and Leo McKern were wonderful. It helped me to imagine the Spanish scenery and it was their voices I heard as I read Graham Green's tale of two very mismatched friends on a funny and scary journey through post-Franco Spain.

This particular novel was chosen by the Spirituality Book Group at my church. It had been recommended by the Rector. We are in the process of discussing it thoroughly over a period of time. We are particularly enjoying the discussions between Fr Quixote and the former local communist mayor, whom he calls Sancho, about the spirit of Christianity and the spirit of communism.

Three stars because I love most of Graham Greene's work. This is a story about two old friends in Spain who head off on a sort of pilgrimage in their battered car. But it isn't up to the standard of his best work, eg The Human Factor. I read this one in paperback years ago, quite liked it then I thought, and recently bought the Kindle version. Unfortunately the conversations (arguments/debates) now seem laborious, and at times preposterous. Writing modern idiom makes Greene seem like a fish out of water. A young women appearing from behind some bushes asks the old gentlemen if they have been 'making out' like her! It was too embarrassing to read any more and I deleted the book.

The prose is lyrical without being poetic. The story is poignant and as is typical of GG, leaves us with more questions than answers. There is always that feeling of incomplete closure, which is like a gentle anathema to the construction of a story. Brilliant.

This is my first Greene book and I liked it so much I'm now going to read all of his works. This delightful tale tells of the travels of a newly minted Monsignor Quixote and his Sancho Panza, the Communist former mayor of a small town. Through their wanderings the pair discuss important life and faith issues. I agree with another reviewer's observation that the book seems to be an argument between Greene and himself. Not only am I going to read more Greene, but I have just bought Cervantes' Don Quixote, which I had never read. This is a highly recommended book.

In what I believe was his last novel, Graham Greene recasts Don Quixote and sets the tale in post-Franco Spain. A road trip full of adventure, philosophical and spiritual debate and unexpected friendships ensues when a newly promoted Monsignor leaves his small town parish in the company of the ex-Mayor who is a committed follower of Marx and Lenin. This is an engaging and cleverly conceived odd couple pairing in the hands of a master. Entertaining and thought provoking.

great work, plenty of wittiness, profound knowledge of human being feelings. How opposite positions can meet through tolerance , philosophy and love. A tender story of two men that take the road for a journey, but farther it is a big metaphor of a journey deep in each others soul - To read more than once - lines written by an exceptional writer who won't let down any reader

and a very good Introduction by Henry Shukman

Ese fue una de las novelas de Graham Greene que nunca había leído. Compré la edición Kindle en inglés de Amazon España. Se reconoce como una novela de Greene aunque no lo calificaría como una de sus mejores. Hay momentos de comedia y estos se asoman como alivio porque durante mucho del tiempo estamos escuchando al autor (disfrazado de Monsignor Quixote) pensando en voz alta, intentando resolver sus propios conflictos sobre la religión y la política.Cuando hurga en citas de eruditos clásicos de quién no conozco nada se pone un poco tedioso, pero basta pasar ligeramente sobre estos pasajes y pronto sucederá algo más animado. No estoy calificado para comentar sobre el interés o no de los temas académicos que plantea.Total, no puedo escribir un elogio sobre la novela pero Greene es un autor que siempre vale la pena leer.This was one novel by Graham Greene that I’d never read. I bought the Kindle edition in English from Amazon Spain. It’s recognisably Greene although I wouldn’t rate it as one of his best. There are moments of comedy and they come as something of a relief because for much of the time we are listening to the author (disguised as Monsignor Quixote) thinking aloud, trying to resolve his own lifelong conflicts about religion and politics.When he delves into quotations from classical scholars I’ve never heard of it gets a little tedious, but generally it’s enough to skip lightly over these passages and before long something livelier happens. I’m not qualified to comment on the interest or otherwise of the academic issues he raises.In summary, I can’t write a rave review about the book but Greene is an author always worth reading.

Not really my cup of tea.Catholicism and Communism, two belief systems that leave many cold, are discussed as banter between a priest and a former mayor on a jaunt around post Franco Spain.

Este libro es muy divertido y muy adecuado para un nivel intermedio alto. La historia es muy divertida y al estar centrada en España es más fácil de entender para lectores españoles.

Para empezar, la portada del libro que recibí no era la misma que la mostrada. El libro me ha gustado en relación calidad- precio.