Between the 1970s right until his death in 1991, Pierre Joannon and Graham Greene shared a deep friendship that blossomed from their cohabiting in an apartment complex in Antibes, located in the southern part of France, offering spectacular views of the harbour. Greene, a well-known author, was notably interviewed by Joannon for Études Irlandaises in 1981, in the piece “Graham Greene’s Other Island.” In it, Greene pondered over his seemingly inadequate representation of Ireland in his literary works, considering his enduring interest in the country since his first visit in 1923.
In the wake of the Civil War, Greene’s perception of Dublin was rather dismal, as he equated Grafton Street and Sackville Street to a decaying English town, berating the excessive number of beggars and ubiquitous propaganda on the bare walls.
Yet, Greene’s fascination with Ireland transcended literature. Although he lauded Irish writers like Yeats, Joyce, Elizabeth Bowen, Brian Moore, Flann O’Brien, John Banville and Seamus Heaney, he was also politically inclined. Greene expressed open condemnation of the violent interrogation techniques used by the British in Northern Ireland in 1971, and compared the tension in Belfast to that of London during the Blitz upon his visit in subsequent years.
Joannon, a long-serving Honorary Consul for Ireland in the south of France and an avid commentator on Irish history and literature, recently penned a continuation to his 1981 interview with Greene. This enigmatic narrative provides comprehensive insights into Greene’s life, while shedding light on his time in Achill and his interactions with renowned Irish personalities like Paddy Campbell, Seán Ó Faoláin, and Ernie O’Malley.
This effort by Joannon is the twenty-third addition to Eamon Maher’s stellar series, “Studies in Franco-Irish Relations,” which delves into the enduring relationship between France and Ireland. Both Joannon and Maher deserve commendation for this novel addition.
– Prof. Jane Conroy, Emerita Professor of French, University of Galway.