In *'The Basement Room'* a small boy witnesses an event that blights his whole life. Like the other stories in this book (written between 1929 and 1954), it hinges on the themes that dominate Graham Greene's novels—fear, pity and violence, pursuit, betrayal and man's restless search for salvation. Some of the stories are comic—poor Mr Maling's stomach mysteriously broadcasts all sorts of sounds; others are wryly sad—a youthful indiscretion catches up with Mr Carter in *'The Blue Film'*. They can be deeply shocking: in *'The Destructors'* a gang of children systematically destroys a man's house. Yet others are hauntingly tragic—a strange relationship between twins that reaches its climax at a children's party. Whatever the mood, each one is a compelling entertainment and unmistakably the work of one of the finest storytellers of the century.

For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.

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### Review

"A superb storyteller..he had a talent for depicting local colour, which he gathered at first hand; a keen sense of the dramatic; an eye for dialogue, and skill in pacing his prose - New York Times"

### From the Inside Flap

The stories in this book, all written between 1929 and 1954, share the themes that feature so strongly in Graham Greene?s novels: humour and violence, pity and hatred, betrayal and pursuit. Comic, sad, shocking and tragic, they recount the tales of Mr. Maling?s loud stomach, destructive gangs of children, indiscretions revealed and secrets uncovered.