for sensations - he simply writes about things he has seen. That is why from time to time he goes to the frontline on his own risk. Such excursions make him see the suffering of the Vietnamese people and the futility of the war going on.and Pyle meet first at the hotel Continental on the day of Pyle s arrival in Saigon. Pyle does not know the real state of affairs in Viet-Nam and Fowler kindly agrees to inform the latter of the present situation in the country. The narrator of the events, Thomas Fowler, cool, self-possessed, is determined not to get personally involved in any of the political issues. Pyle, the quiet American , as Fowler called him, seems at first an innocent virtuous youth, who has adopted all the catchwords about liberty, democracy, self-determination and book-learnt doctrines that can give a patriotic American an excuse for trying to clean up the world in the interests of idealism and big business.gets acquainted with Phuong. He is fascinated by the girl and begins to court her. His visits to Fowler become more frequent and once he even admits that he is, going to propose to the girl. He is sure that Phuong will be willing to marry him, because he would give her wealth and happiness, while Fowler can offer her nothing.Fowler receives a letter from his editorial office - in England in which he is told to return to England. Being afraid that Phuong might agree to marry Pyle Fowler tells her that he is not going to England. Phuong refuses to marry Pyle and remains with Fowler.a terrible explosion takes place in Saigon; many people are killed and crippled. On seeing the disaster all around Fowler suspects that it is Pyle who supplies the colonial authorities with American plastics. He remembers his conversation with Mr. Heng, a Chinese merchant, who has given him some hints about Pyle s activities in Viet-Nam; Fowler understands how Pyle fights for democracy . day on returning home Fowler finds Phuong gone. Overcome by anger, pity and loneliness Fowler goes to the front, where he witnesses all the horrors of war. It makes him hate the war, and he sees that many French officers and soldiers share his opinion.meets Pyle and discusses different problems with him. The innocent American maintains the opinion that only the USA can save Viet-Nam from all disasters and calamities and has the right to interfere into the home affairs of other countries. Fowler sees that this young modest and innocent fellow has become more dangerous to the Vietnamese people than all the French troops, for his activities cause death to women and children. Fowler and Heng arrive at the decision to do away with Pyle. Fowler invites Pyle to dinner at a small remote restaurant. On the way to the restaurant Heng s men kill Pyle. Thus Pyle s own harmful activities have doomed him to death.conflict between Pyle, an agent of the American Secret Service, and Fowler, and English journalist, throws some light on the role the United States played in Viet-Nam. The book exposes the real aims of the Western civilization in that country. The political problem, however, is closely connected with the moral aspect of the question: has any nation the right to arrange the life of another nation, has it the right to decide another nation s fate? Quiet American is Greene s masterpiece not only for its high ideological content. It demonstrates also Greene s art of composition, his ability, logically to develop an exciting plot.
Charles Percy Snow
1905-1980Percy Snow was born in Leicester. By the end of the twenties he graduated from Cambridge University and went on working there in the field of molecular physics. In 1930 he became a Fellow of his college. This academic life went on until the beginning of World War II, when he became a civil servant and was engaged in selecting scientific personnel. After the war C.P. Snow worked in industry and was appointed a Civil Service Commissioner. For excellent service he received a knighthood in 1957. His studies in physics are as widely known as his articles and lectures on both the relations between literature and science and literature and society.the sixties he visited the Soviet Union with his wife Pamela Hansford Johnson, a well-known English woman novelist. She is the author of socio-psychological nove...
