Essay Assignment

The Quiet American, Graham Greene (1955)

by James Sandy, University of Texas at Arlington

Graham Greene’s Quiet American is an excellent secondary source showcasing the French period and escalating American involvement and commitment in the Vietnam War. This book highlights American attitudes and perceptions to the conflict they would soon join as witnessed by a semi-impartial & western observer. This work showcases the difficulties, both martial and political, in the growing conflict in Southeast Asia. This assignment is designed for students to take an in-depth look at the characters and moments within historical novels and use them to better understand the real moments that inspired them.