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The Power and the Glory by Graham Greene

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The Power and the Glory by Graham Greene

Book report by Allen Rabinovich

It is the story-teller's task to elicit sympathy and a measure of understanding for those who lie outside the boundaries of State Approval.

I.

One day I gave The Power and the Glory to... a native of Mexico who had lived through the worst persecutions... She confessed that your descriptions were so vivid, your priest so real, that she found herself praying for him at Mass. I understand how she felt. Last year, on a trip through Mexico, I found myself peering into mud huts, through village streets, and across impassible mountain ranges, half-believing that I would glimpse a dim figure stumbling in the rain on his way to the border. There is no greater tribute …show more content…

He traveled northward to escape the police and, if possible, to make his way temporarily into another state.

Some hours after leaving the village, Father Montez met with a mestizo who joined him. Before long the half-breed discovered that Father Montez was the priest for whom the police were searching. He promised that he, a good Catholic, would not betray the secret, but Father Montez was afraid that the promised reward of seven hundred pesos would be too much for a patience of the poor man.

When they reached a town , however, it was Father Montez own weakness which put him into the hands of the police. He wanted to have some liquor, the selling of which was against the law. He tried to buy some illegally, but his possession of the contraband was discovered by one of the revolutionary Red Shirts, who raised a cry about this. Tracked down by a police, the priest was caught and placed in the prison. Fortunately, the police didn't recognize him, but since he had no money he was kept in jail to work and thus to pay the fine.

The lieutenant of police who was searching for him unexpectedly did father
Montez a good thing. Seeing the old man working about the prison, the lieutenant stopped to talk with him. The priest said he was a vagrant who had no home of his own. The lieutenant, feeling sorry for the old fellow, released him and gave him a present of five pesos. Leaving town, Father Montez started out

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