The Power and the Glory is a major work by Graham Greene, known for its complex treatment of faith, morality, fear, and human imperfection. First published in 1940, the novel is set against the backdrop of religious persecution in Mexico, where the suppression of Catholic religious practice creates an atmosphere of fear and uncertainty.

At the center of the story is an unnamed Catholic priest who has become a fugitive. Despite his personal weaknesses and the constant threat of arrest, he continues to serve people in secret. Greene deliberately presents his protagonist as a deeply imperfect individual rather than an idealized religious figure, allowing the novel to examine the complicated relationship between sin, responsibility, compassion, and redemption.

The novel’s setting plays an important role in its atmosphere and themes. Greene portrays a society in which religious practice has been severely restricted, creating a conflict between governmental authority and individual belief. The priest’s journey through the countryside becomes both a physical escape and a profound moral journey, bringing him into contact with people whose lives are shaped by poverty, fear, loyalty, doubt, and desperation.

A central concern of the novel is the tension between faith and doubt. Greene does not present belief as simple or uncomplicated. Instead, religious conviction exists alongside fear, weakness, guilt, and uncertainty. This psychological complexity is characteristic of Greene’s fiction and contributes to the novel’s enduring place in discussions of twentieth-century literature and religious fiction.

The book also examines the idea of moral courage under pressure. Characters are repeatedly forced to make difficult decisions in circumstances where there are no easy choices. Through these encounters, Greene considers questions about responsibility, sacrifice, forgiveness, and the value of human life.

This 1970 Penguin Books paperback edition is a compact format of the novel, measuring approximately 4.5 × 0.5 × 7 inches and containing 221 pages. Its Penguin paperback format makes it suitable for readers and collectors interested in twentieth-century British literature, classic novels, religious fiction, and Graham Greene’s bibliography.

• Title: The Power and the Glory
• Author: Graham Greene
• Publisher: Penguin Books
• Edition: 1970
• Binding: Paperback
• Pages: 221
• Size: 4.5 × 0.5 × 7 inches
• Language: English
• Genre: Literary Fiction / Classic Novel
• Themes: Faith, morality, guilt, redemption, persecution, sacrifice, religious conflict
• Setting: Mexico
• Ideal for: Collectors of classic literature, Graham Greene readers, students of modern literature, and readers interested in religious and psychological fiction

🔹 Collector’s Note

This 1970 Penguin Books paperback edition of The Power and the Glory represents a period paperback issue of one of Graham Greene’s most important novels. Its Penguin format, compact dimensions, and classic literary significance make it a useful addition to collections of twentieth-century British fiction, Penguin paperbacks, and Graham Greene’s works.