The End of the AffairThe End of the Affair
Score Classic
What it's about
During the Second World War, in bombed-out London, novelist Maurice Bendrix begins an affair with Sarah, the wife of a civil servant, Henry. When she suddenly ends it, Bendrix is consumed by jealousy, and years later he sets out to discover why. Graham Greene's novel is, as Bendrix says, a record of hate far more than of love.
Why it's worth reading
It's on the Guardian's list of the 100 best novels in English and is often called the finest novel ever written about an affair.
You'll love it if you liked
The Heart of the Matter
The Power and the Glory
Brideshead RevisitedGood to know
It's short and intense, and turns into a story about faith. It has been filmed twice.
By the numbers
- Readers31 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics51 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller20 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
Why it made the list
Reads as
Thought-provoking, Moving
More by Graham Greene
The Heart of the MatterThe Power and the Glory
Travels with My AuntIf you like this, read next
Tender Is the Night
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow
Bliss Montage
Klara and the Sun
High Fidelity
Gone with the WindExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is The End of the Affair worth reading?
Yes. It's on the Guardian's list of the 100 best novels in English and is often called the finest novel ever written about an affair. It ranks #1,892 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 64.9 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The End of the Affair about?
During the Second World War, in bombed-out London, novelist Maurice Bendrix begins an affair with Sarah, the wife of a civil servant, Henry. When she suddenly ends it, Bendrix is consumed by jealousy, and years later he sets out to discover why. Graham Greene's novel is, as Bendrix says, a record of hate far more than of love.
How long does it take to read The End of the Affair?
About 5 hours (192 pages), or about 10 days at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after The End of the Affair?
If you liked it, try The Heart of the Matter by Graham Greene, The Power and the Glory by Graham Greene or Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh.