The Tenth Man

Infobox Book |
name = The Tenth Man
title_orig =
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image_caption =
author = Graham Greene
illustrator =
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country = United Kingdom
language = English
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genre = Thriller novel
publisher = The Bodley Head and Anthony Blond
release_date = 1 January 1985
english_release_date =
media_type = Print (Hardback & Paperback)
pages = 158 pp
isbn = ISBN 0-370-30831-X
preceded_by =
followed_by =

"The Tenth Man" (1985) is a short novel by British novelist Graham Greene. There are two other works with the same title, both plays - one by Paddy Chayefsky, and one by W. Somerset Maugham, but neither of those are related to Greene's book, or to each other.

Background

In the introduction to the First edition of his novel [cite book |last= Greene |first= Graham |authorlink= Graham Greene |title= The Tenth Man |edition= Hardcover |year= 1985 |month= |publisher= The Bodley Head and Anthony Blond |location= United Kingdom |id= ISBN 0-370-30831-X] Graham Greene states that he had forgotten about this story until receiving a letter about it from a stranger in 1983. Greene had first suggested it as an idea for a film script in 1937, and later developed it whilst working for MGM during the 1940s. Nothing came of it and the rights were offered for sale by MGM in 1983. The buyer (Anthony Blond) allowed Greene to revise and subsequently publish the work. Greene also writes of this novel that "I prefer it in many ways to "The Third Man" (Greene 1985:10)

Plot summary

The story begins in a prison in Occupied France during World War II. It is deemed that one in every ten prisoners is to be executed; lots are drawn to decide who will die. One of the men chosen is a rich lawyer. He offers all his money to anyone who will take his place. One man agrees. Upon his release from prison the lawyer must face the consequences of his actions.

The story comprises four parts. In Part I, set in prison, the occupying German guards issue a decimation order to the thirty inmates. One of the three chosen by drawing lots is a rich lawyer named Chavel. Chavel becomes hysterical and desperately offers his entire wealth to any man willing to die in his place. A young man, known as Janvier, accepts his offer and is executed.

In Part II, the war is over and Chavel is alive and free, but virtually destitute. He returns to the house he sold for his life and finds it occupied by Janvier’s mother and sister, Thérèse. Assuming the false name Charlot, he becomes their servant.

Part III sees the arrival of an impostor, named Carosse, who claims to be Chavel. Carosse attempts to denounce Charlot, win the favour of Thérèse and stake a claim on the property.

Finally in Part IV, Charlot, having fallen in love with Thérèse, must save her from Carosse, as a means of redemption from his earlier cowardice.

Film, TV or theatrical adaptations

The book was turned into a movie starring Anthony Hopkins as Chavel and Kristin Scott Thomas as Therese.

Footnotes