The Honorary ConsulThe Honorary Consul
Score Classic
What it's about
In a provincial town in northern Argentina, Charley Fortnum, a drunken, sentimental British 'honorary consul', is kidnapped by a group of rebels who mistake him for the American ambassador. Dr. Eduardo Plarr, a doctor who is having an affair with Fortnum's young wife, is drawn into the crisis.
Why it's worth reading
It hit #1 on the New York Times list. Graham Greene considered it one of his best novels.
You'll love it if you liked
The Power and the Glory
The Heart of the Matter
Dog SoldiersGood to know
It's about faith and politics.
By the numbers
- Readers11 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller30 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- 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.
On our reserve shelf: it doesn't have enough readers yet for us to rank it alongside the Must-Read 50 pool. We check again every month, and it can still turn up in your 50 once you've read most of our ranked books.
Why it made the list
Reads as
Moving, Thought-provoking
More by Graham Greene
The Heart of the MatterThe Power and the Glory
The End of the Affair
Travels with My AuntIf you like this, read next
The Color Purple
The Caine Mutiny
East of Eden
I, Claudius
A Room of One's Own
Angle of ReposeExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is The Honorary Consul worth reading?
It hit #1 on the New York Times list. Its Must-Read Score is 53.9 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The Honorary Consul about?
In a provincial town in northern Argentina, Charley Fortnum, a drunken, sentimental British 'honorary consul', is kidnapped by a group of rebels who mistake him for the American ambassador. Dr. Eduardo Plarr, a doctor who is having an affair with Fortnum's young wife, is drawn into the crisis.
How long does it take to read The Honorary Consul?
About 7 hours (267 pages), or about 2 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after The Honorary Consul?
If you liked it, try The Power and the Glory by Graham Greene, The Heart of the Matter by Graham Greene or Dog Soldiers by Robert Stone.