THE HONORARY CONSUL

Some great books receive unexceptional readings on audio, and some unexceptional books are read masterfully. This novel, if less known than others by its author, ranks with the best of Greene's work. It also benefits from an exciting performance by Tim Pigott-Smith that itself should be regarded as a classic. The book concerns the costs of open-heartedness and commitment for those caught up in a political kidnapping in Argentina. Pigott-Smith's greatest triumph is his portrayal of the title character, Charley Fortnum, the alcoholic figurehead snatched mistakenly by revolutionaries. Pigott-Smith poignantly conveys Charley's noble vulnerability by echoing the cadences of Alec Guinness. He also excels with Sir Henry Belfrage, the comically shallow government official. The midbook conversation of Fortnum recognizing the terrorist Rivas as a fallen priest is only one of many spellbinding moments in this unforgettable rendering of a first-rate book. G.H. Winner of AUDIOFILE Earphones Award. © AudioFile 2001, Portland, Maine [Published: APR/MAY 01]