The Quiet American: Key Facts

full title The Quiet American

author Graham Greene

type of work Novel

genre Political fiction; anti-war novel; satire

language English

time and place written Greene wrote the book during stays in Saigon’s Hotel Continental between March 1952 and June 1955.

date of first publication 1955

publisher William Heinemann

narrator Thomas Fowler narrates The Quiet American after the main events of the novel have already taken place.

point of view The Quiet American is told entirely from Fowler’s first-person point of view. Fowler’s narrative primarily focuses on his own thoughts and experiences, but he frequently speculates on the thoughts and motives of other characters as well, particularly of Pyle and Phuong.

tone Fowler’s narration is ironic and sometimes vitriolic when it pertains to Pyle. However, when it pertains to Phuong or his own life and experience, Fowler’s narration is often serious and melancholy.

tense Past tense, though the narrative moves back and forth between the events that follow Pyle’s death and the events that lead up to it

setting (time) Early 1950s

setting (place) Vietnam

protagonist Thomas Fowler

major conflict The major conflict in The Quiet American plays out between the cynical and ironic Englishman, Thomas Fowler, and the sincere and serious American, Alden Pyle.

rising action As Pyle threatens to take Phuong away from Fowler, and as his involvement in the politics of the region become clear, the American’s interventionist goals increasingly come into conflict with Fowler and his commitment to impartiality.

climax When Fowler stands at his window and gives the signal that sets the plan to kill Pyle in motion, he can no longer pretend to be a disengaged or neutral observer e has made a direct intervention in the political landscape.

falling action After giving the signal, Fowler deeply questions what he has done, but he is unable to confess his involvement to Phuong or to the French inspector Vigot.

themes The danger of “innocence”; The impossibility of remaining neutral; The insufficiency of abstract thinking

motifs Religion; Life like a movie; Virginity

symbols The dice game 421; Books by York Harding; The rue Catinat

foreshadowing Fowler’s repeated claim that he is innocent in the opening chapter; Fowler’s reference to the “big bang” (i.e., the explosion in the Place Garnier) and the economic attaché’s reference to Pyle’s “special duties” (i.e., his covert involvement in an American intelligence mission

Previous section Full Book Summary