Monsignor Quixote
by Graham Greene · first published 1982
6mentions
3recommended by
4HN commenters
2020–2023first – last mentioned
75% recommend25% neutral
"A direct descendant of his famous namesake, Father Quixote is a humble parish priest. By chance he is advanced to Monsignor, resulting in furor in the bishopric. Quixote and his friend Sancho Zancas, the Communist ex-mayor of the village, leave for a pilgrimage across Spain."--Audio cassette container.
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I first came to Greene via his novel, Monsignor Quixote. It was billed to me as, “Don Quixote is a Catholic priest and Sancho Panza is a communist.” As a 14-year-old fascinated by Catholicism and Marxism, that was enough to hook me. What catches my interest…
on “Unmasking Graham Greene” ↗Many people have a book they read in their teens that changed their outlook. For some it's 1984. For me it was Greene's "The Power and the Glory". It, and the questions it raised, are still with me. Monsignor Quixote I can also recommend. The others I read I have forgotten, except for Brighton Rock which I didn't like. As a sibling commenter has said, if you have any form of religious background or have seen that…
on “Unmasking Graham Greene” ↗…and returned to the book many times over the years that followed. One day in high school, a friend who had graduated came by to visit the band teacher and had a book in his hand that he was reading, Monsignor Quixote by Graham Greene. He described it as “Don Quixote is a Catholic priest and Sancho Panza is the communist ex-mayor of El Toboso.” I went to the library the next day and checked out their copy of the book…
on “Ask HN: What book changed your life?” ↗…The End of the Affair: Another very catholic novel, but also very different. The Quiet American: Hard to express exactly how good this one is. Vietnam, spies, and a huge indictment of "decent people". Monsignor Quixote: Life after fascism, and a ridiculous priest who may, in fact, be a saint.
on “The paradox of Graham Greene” ↗My oldest book dates to the 18th century. It’s not my most valuable book (I’m not sure which is, but my guess would be the signed limited edition of Graham Greene’s Monsignor Quixote would be it). I keep the valuable books on a special shelf so that after I die, my kids will know that those books should probably not be sent to the library book sale.
on “Archive of medieval books and manuscripts discovered in Romanian church” ↗I went to Greene's old school (where his father had been headmaster). It's interesting how much stuff from the school pops up in his novels - from the school motto in "Monsignor Quixote" to the route walked from the school in "The Captain and the Enemy". Minor anecdote: He visited the school once, and I remember seeing him stop at a corner and turn to look directly at me. Only in retrospect…
on “The paradox of Graham Greene” ↗