Maurice Bendrix’s love affair with his friend’s wife, Sarah, had begun in London during the Blitz.
One day, inexplicably and without warning, Sarah had broken off the relationship. Two years later, driven by obsessive jealousy and grief, Bendrix sends Parkis, a private detective, to follow Sarah.
As the reader discovers, there had really been 3 persons in the affair. The third is God, with whom Sarah has a pact. This is classic Graham Greene (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graham_Greene), exploring themes of love, sin and Catholic conscience.
Brought to the screen in 2004 (http://www.amazon.co.uk/End-Affair-DVD-Julianne-Moore/dp/B0001XLXIO/ref=sr_1_1?s=dvd&ie=UTF8&qid=1365958928&sr=1-1&keywords=end+of+the+affair) with Ralph Fiennes and Julianne Moore, a rain soaked, shabby wartime London provides the perfect backdrop to this tale of infidelity and guilt.
It’s one of those novels one wants to shut out the world for until it’s finished. Enquire at your local library or available at http://www.amazon.co.uk/End-Affair-Vintage-Classics/dp/0099478447/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1421790460&sr=1-1&keywords=end+of+the+affair
For a good introduction to Greene listen to the BBC Radio 4 ‘Great Lives’ episode (30 minutes) available at the link http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b012wjd1 Presented by Matthew Parris, with enthusiasts Tim Butcher and David Pearce.
192 pages in Vintage Classics paperback edition
First published 1951
ISBN 978-0099478447
Graham Greene