Initially I thought this novel would cure my dislike of Graham Greene. But alas, as I read on, all the old problems began to surface. Firstly the presenting lightness of the material—as though this is going to be a comedy. Fine in itself, but Greene is class-ridden; full of contempt and spite for the working class. He paints the ordinary man as a dull, boring, timid, colourless drudge and the profligate upper middle class as entertaining, lively, inventive rascals. I see him as a sort of anti-Orwellian. Either that, or the novel has no hero and we are also meant to despise Aunt Augusta’s amoral, self-aggrandizing, bully tactics. I don’t believe that. Graham Greene, with his extensive experience of the foreign office, despises the petty rules of bureaucracy. Today he would be a member of the populist anti-PC brigade. All they want is a clean conscience to ride roughshod over fairness and consideration where it is convenient to them and to imagine that the rules and laws that they choose to break are commensurate with those that are unnecessary. Life lived with a disregard for probity is not romantic, it is selfish and puerile. ( )

Really enjoyed this book. The light wit which is distributed through the book hides the more serious notes in the book. I really enjoyed the exploration of the characters and the life of the narraters aunt unravelling. One of my favourite books by Graham greene.

Travels With My Aunt by Graham Greene is a comedic adventure story of Henry Pulling, a man leading a settled life who first meets his mother's sister, Augusta, at his mother's funeral. Too polite to refuse her request to travel with her, he joins his aunt on the first of a series of journeys. At first Henry is shocked at his aunt's illegal financial dealings and romantic affairs, but after he returns to his life he quickly comes to the realization that that his settled life is actually quite mundane. He concludes that he has a taste for adventure after all and away he goes to track down his aunt and lead a life he never would have imagined he would live.

Aunt Augusta's unpredictable character is juxtaposed with Henry's very buttoned up British personality. Along the way they encounter many quirky and off-beat characters that enhance the zany quality of this novel.

This is not a multi-layered novel full of literary tricks and turns, and the main theme is a pretty straight forward "live life to the fullest" standard message, but Greene's comedic delivery had me smiling.

I am not lover of British humor, so my three star rating lies more in my own personal taste rather than Greene's execution of the novel, but if you enjoy British humor, you would probably love this book. I would categorize it as a good summer read. ( )

Read twice, fantastic novel ( )

i am deeply. madly. crazily in love with graham greene after finishing this book. more later. ( )