The Quiet American

"The Quiet American" is a novel by Graham Greene set in Vietnam during the early 1950s, amid the struggle between colonial powers and emerging nationalism. It follows Thomas Fowler, a cynical British journalist, and his complex relationship with Alden Pyle, an idealistic American aid worker. The story explores themes of innocence, political involvement, and the consequences of foreign intervention. Through their interactions, Greene examines moral ambiguity and the impact of idealism in a turbulent world, ultimately questioning the efficacy of good intentions in the face of real-world conflict.