Written when Cold War tensions between the East and West were volatile,

(1950; 1971) opens in burnt-out Vienna, a city historically known for its baroque elegance and “bogus easy charm” that is now “a city of undignified ruins” (

14) from wartime bombings. The setting mirrors author Graham Greene’s moralist themes. Greene’s protagonist, British writer Rollo Martins, readily accepts an offer from his life-long friend Harry Lime, director of the International Refuge Office in Vienna, to write an article publicizing the Office’s activities. Lime’s invitation means the hard up Martins will be paid to publish something more substantial than potboilers he writes under the

of Buck Dexter. Escaping to Vienna also gives him a much needed breather…

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Citation: Beene, LynnDianne. "The Third Man". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 04 August 2023 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=7923, accessed 02 May 2024.]

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