The Tenth Man

Graham Greene’s THE TENTH MAN tells the story of Jean-Louis Chavel, who, while imprisoned by the Germans during the occupation and condemned to the firing squad, buys his life, in a moment of fear, by trading all his material possessions for his life with another prisoner, a poor man determined to leave something for his family. At the end of the war, Chavel, disguising as Charlot, another prisoner of war, returns to his home, now occupied by the prisoner's sister, Therese, who bitterly awaits the return of the man who had indirectly caused the death of her brother. Not knowing Charlot’s real identity, Therese hires him as caretaker whose main job is to identify Chavel should he return to the house. Then one day, someone calling himself Chavel turns up at their doorstep.

THE TENTH MAN tells how Chavel, in returning to the home he has given away, discovers his humanity and the courage that failed him as he sets out to take what was once his.

This morality tale is simple yet highly entertaining – suspenseful and dramatic, with a convincing conclusion.

{October 25, 2009}