And it is not out of a sense of virtue or belief. He is now deemed to be the last known priest in the region – many have left to the neighboring state that is far more welcoming of them or others, like Padre Jose, have given into the Government demands by getting married and retiring for a pension. Our unnamed Mexican priest has been on the run for 8 years as he defies the Mexican authorities who are trying to stamp out all and any signs of the Catholic religion in the region. Greene’s sense of compassion guides him to create a spiritual character out of an anti-hero. No prizes for guessing that the novel didn’t find favor with either of the parties. Instead a Whiskey priest who has sired a child outside wedlock and is rather fond of his tipple is seen to be taking on the socialist regime’s agenda to get rid of God and Liquor to liberate the masses. It is quintessential Greene in the sense that he doesn’t write a propaganda piece. Greene developed the theme of Catholic persecution in Mexico during the inter-war years that he got a first hand account during his visit to Tabasco and Chiapas. Published in 1940 the novel that went on to be regarded as a masterpiece by Graham Greene had a modest print run of only 3500 copies.
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