'A Burnt-Out Case'-A descent into darkness with Graham Greene

Ever have one of those days, weeks or months when you suddenly feel tired of everything in life? When all that you achieved becomes pointless and you long to run away somewhere where no one knows you at all? Well, it never happened to me because I'm a bright little ray of sunshine but for those who have had sudden bouts of such existential identity crisis, Graham Greene's 'A Burnt-Out Case' is the book that they will be able to identify with.

In a nutshell, the story is about a world famous architect who becomes tired of his life, job and fame, a “… victim of a terrible attack of indifference, no longer finding pleasure in art or life.” He drops everything behind and travels all the way to the heart of Africa, to the farthest leper colony of the Dark Continent, seeking refuge against the world. There, he is said to be mental equivalent of 'A Burnt-Out Case', a leper patient who has undergone a stage of mutilation. However, working with the patients alongside the doctor and the missionary priests, he slowly starts to overcome his boredom. Things take a turn for the worse when the white community becomes curious about him.

A surprisingly interesting and fluidic story, this is an honest analysis of man's faith and a bleak overview of the garish luridness of society. Written in 1960 and first published by Heinemann Publishing House of London, this novel, like most of Greene's novels, focuses on the riddle of man vs. religion and the crisis of identity in a world of unabashed materialism. The protagonist, Querry, is a question unto himself. His origins are never mentioned and his past is either glorified by the exaggeration of others or reviled by the man himself.

Overall, I would recommend this book to anyone who has a speck of interest in reading, because it highlights the mastery Graham Greene has over words. Hailed as one of the greatest writers of the 20th century, he once remarked, “I think my books are my children.”A point not far from the truth when you see the care and details behind each of his works. However, the heaviness of this book will indubitably put a damper on one's mood, so I suggest that, after finishing this, one must indulge in some 'Twilight' time. After all, too much intellectualism is not always good for one's soul. Happy reading!