Fact-checked by Grok 2 weeks ago

The Tenth Man

The Tenth Man is a thriller by the English author , first published in 1985. Set in a German prison camp in occupied , it centers on Chavel, a wealthy lawyer who, selected by lot for execution among a group of hostages, desperately barters his estate to another prisoner in exchange for taking his place and assuming his identity. The narrative examines the moral and psychological ramifications of this act of , as Chavel navigates postwar guilt, , and upon returning to his former life . Written in 1944 during Greene's wartime contract with , the manuscript was sold to the studio but subsequently forgotten until its rediscovery in an agent's in 1983. Greene himself had no recollection of the work when it resurfaced, and he contributed a brief introduction to the 1985 edition, expressing surprise at its existence. The book was published by The Bodley Head in the and Simon & Schuster in the United States, spanning approximately 160 pages and marking a rare rediscovered addition to Greene's oeuvre of over 25 novels. Critically, The Tenth Man has been praised for its taut psychological and ironic exploration of and , drawing comparisons to the works of , though some reviewers noted its melodramatic elements and underdeveloped characters limit its depth compared to Greene's major works like The Power and the Glory. It received a mixed but generally positive upon , with an average reader rating of 3.7 out of 5 on based on over 5,000 reviews, highlighting its themes of moral ambiguity amid wartime desperation. The was adapted into a in 1988, directed by and starring as Chavel, which earned nominations for three , including Best Miniseries or .

Publication and Background

Conception and Early Development

Graham Greene first conceived the idea for The Tenth Man in 1937 as a script set against the backdrop of the , drawing on his interest in moral dilemmas involving personal sacrifice and assumed identities. This early outline reflected Greene's growing engagement with , as he had recently served as critic for Night and Day magazine, where his reviews often explored psychological and ethical tensions in narratives. In the early 1940s, amid , Greene expanded the concept into a detailed treatment while under a lucrative with Studios, signed in 1944 to provide financial security for his family as the war neared its end. The treatment retained core elements such as a mechanism to avert execution, adapting the setting to occupied for relevance to contemporary events. Greene's efforts during this period were part of a broader career trajectory that included earlier projects like the 1937 screenplay for (released in 1940), though many of his pitches, including treatments for war-themed stories, went unproduced due to studio priorities and his divided attentions. Ultimately, MGM showed no interest in producing the script, leading Greene to shelve the project as he shifted focus to other literary works during and after the war, such as The Ministry of Fear (1943) and The Heart of the Matter (1948). This abandonment was typical of Greene's experiences in the 1930s and 1940s screen trade, where contractual obligations often yielded ideas that languished in studio vaults amid changing production landscapes and his own commitments to intelligence work for British MI6 from 1941 onward.

Rediscovery and Publication

In 1983, was contacted by publisher Anthony Blond, who had purchased the rights to an unpublished story of Greene's titled The Tenth Man from (), where it had lain forgotten since being sold as a in 1944. Upon receiving the typescript from Blond, Greene discovered that the work was not a mere but a complete short of approximately 30,000 words, written during his contract period for financial security amid wartime uncertainties. Astonished by its quality, Greene noted in his introduction to the published edition that he found the story "very readable" and made only minor revisions to the manuscript, as he deemed it largely ready for publication as is. Blond's acquisition of the publication rights for £12,000 allowed Greene the opportunity to review and approve the work's release, though retained a share of the royalties per the original contract terms. Greene expressed a personal preference for The Tenth Man over his more renowned , citing its greater moral complexity as a reason he had no desire to withhold it from readers. The novel was first published in the on 1 January 1985 by and Anthony Blond as a hardback edition comprising 158 pages ( 0-370-30831-X). It was released simultaneously in the United States by , followed by paperback editions from in 1986 and various international translations, including French and German versions.

Literary Analysis

Plot Summary

The story is set in German-occupied , where a group of thirty prisoners are held in a makeshift camp and informed by their captors that every tenth man will be executed in retaliation for acts of . Among the prisoners is Louis Chavel, a wealthy from , who participates in a to determine the victims; he draws one of the marked lots designating him for death. In a moment of desperation, Chavel proposes a bargain, offering his entire and to any prisoner willing to take his place in the execution. A poor named Michel Janvier, also referred to as Mangeot, accepts the , assuming Chavel's name and dying by firing squad in his stead, thereby inheriting Chavel's possessions for his family. The remaining prisoners, including Chavel, are eventually released as the war ends. In the post-war period, Chavel, now living as a penniless vagrant under the alias "Charlot," wanders and eventually returns to his former estate in the countryside, which has been transferred to Janvier's heirs following the tailor's execution under Chavel's name. The house is now occupied by Janvier's mother and sister Thérèse, who manage the property; Charlot gains employment there as a , concealing his while observing their lives. Complications arise when a former named Carosse arrives at the estate, claiming to be the real Louis Chavel and revealing details of his own with the Nazis during the to assert his right to the property. Carosse attempts to manipulate Thérèse and her mother, sowing doubt about Charlot's presence and seeking to evict him. The narrative builds to a climax through escalating confrontations at the estate, where Thérèse develops an affection for Charlot amid the tensions. Carosse's imposture is ultimately exposed during a violent altercation, leading Chavel to reveal his identity and perform an act of to shield Thérèse and her from further harm and scandal.

Themes and Motifs

One of the central s in The Tenth Man is guilt and the quest for , as seen in the protagonist's profound arising from a desperate bargain for that haunts him with . This guilt manifests as a psychological burden, driving the character toward acts of that underscore Greene's exploration of human frailty and the possibility of . The reflects Greene's recurring interest in the consequences of selfish choices under duress, emphasizing not as an easy but as a painful, self-imposed reckoning. Identity and impersonation serve as key motifs, symbolizing the fragility of selfhood in times of , with the shift from the name Chavel to Charlot representing a deliberate erasure of one's past to navigate a new reality. The ancestral house emerges as a potent symbol of lost and belonging, evoking the dispossession that accompanies personal reinvention and the illusion of as a marker of . These elements highlight how war disrupts not just physical lives but the very essence of who one is, forcing characters to confront the fluidity of their social and personal roles. Sacrifice and class disparity are intertwined themes, illustrated through the stark contrasts between wealthy elites and working-class figures, which exacerbate tensions and prompt acts of selflessness amid . The of the prisoner exchange evokes religious , mirroring Catholic undertones prevalent in Greene's oeuvre, where becomes a path to and beyond institutional faith. This draws on Greene's characteristic blend of ethical dilemmas with spiritual resonance, portraying as a Christ-like gesture that redeems the sacrificer while exposing societal divides. The dehumanizing effects of war form another core motif, depicting how fosters , , and lingering resentment that erode human connections and moral clarity. These elements illustrate the psychological toll of , where individuals grapple with compromised and the erosion of trust in a fractured society. The setting amplifies themes of displacement, as characters navigate a world upended by invasion and loss. Like Greene's other "entertainments" such as , The Tenth Man fuses thriller conventions with profound ethical dilemmas, using suspenseful plotting to probe questions of morality and human choice without descending into mere . This approach exemplifies Greene's skill in elevating through layered explorations of guilt and identity, making the work a thoughtful counterpart to his more famous .

Characters

Protagonist and Antagonist

Louis Chavel serves as the protagonist of Graham Greene's The Tenth Man, depicted as a privileged whose during a prisoner lottery in occupied prompts him to swap identities with a fellow inmate, thereby preserving his life at the cost of his social standing and self-respect. Initially portrayed as haughty and intellectually detached, Chavel's desperation leads him to offer his estate to the family of the executed man, assuming the humble of Jean-Louis Charlot and seeking refuge in the very home he once owned. This inciting incident of the prisoner exchange sets the stage for his psychological arc, marked by profound guilt and an as he confronts the of living as a stranger in familiar surroundings. Throughout the narrative, Chavel undergoes gradual , transitioning from arrogant to and , ultimately redeeming himself through a sacrificial act that affirms his growth. His highlights themes of ethical , as he grapples with the consequences of his initial , evolving into a figure who embraces to achieve . Chavel's intellectual detachment—rooted in his pre-war life of detachment from emotional realities—contrasts sharply with the raw survival instincts he must adopt, driving the story's exploration of personal transformation amid wartime chaos. In opposition, Carosse emerges as the antagonist, an opportunistic actor and former collaborator who arrives at the estate posing as the real Louis Chavel to exploit the situation for personal gain, thereby embodying themes of betrayal and false redemption. Streetwise and manipulative, Carosse uses his charisma to deceive the household, attempting to claim the sold property's proceeds while concealing his own sordid past, including acts of collaboration during the occupation. His traits of cunning opportunism serve as a foil to Chavel's emerging humility, underscoring the moral costs of survival through deceit rather than genuine atonement. The confrontation between Chavel and Carosse unfolds as a duel, where Chavel, under his assumed , exposes the impostor's lies in a tense psychological standoff that tests their respective claims to authenticity and righteousness. Carosse's manipulative charisma initially dominates, pressuring Chavel to retreat further into , but Chavel's empowers him to reclaim his true self, culminating in a that defeats the antagonist's scheme. This clash highlights the narrative's ethical core, with Chavel's transformation illustrating the possibility of redemption through humility, while Carosse's exploitation reveals the destructive allure of false survival tactics.

Supporting Characters

Michel Mangeot, known as Janvier, is a prisoner suffering from who agrees to take the place of the in the execution , accepting the transfer of his in . His decision stems from a desire to secure financial security for his mother and twin sister Thérèse, embodying working-class and sacrifice amid desperation. Janvier's act profoundly impacts the central conflict, as his subsequent death instills lasting guilt in the and shapes the interpersonal tensions that unfold . Thérèse Mangeot, Janvier's twin sister, inherits half of the estate alongside her mother, taking up residence in the former home of the . Initially driven by grief and a sense of loss from her brother's sacrifice, she forms an unexpected emotional connection with the imposter servant Charlot, facilitating moments of mutual understanding and subtle reconciliation within the household. Her presence underscores themes of familial duty and emotional recovery, influencing Charlot's evolving role without independently propelling the narrative. Madame Mangeot, the mother of Michel and Thérèse, co-inherits the property and represents quiet endurance as she copes with her son's death and the family's newfound circumstances. Her frail health and dependence on Thérèse highlight the ripple effects of the swap on lives, providing a backdrop for the domestic dynamics that test the imposter's facade. , an engine driver among the prisoners, contributes to the group's internal rivalries, particularly in disputes over timekeeping and authority with figures like the , amplifying the atmosphere of anxiety and friction in the camp. His minor role offers contrast to the main figures, illustrating the collective pressure that influences individual choices during . The village priest serves as a peripheral moral voice, offering brief spiritual counsel and blessings that underscore the story's ethical ambiguities, such as when he dispenses with pragmatic efficiency. Other prisoners, including the bourgeois and various working-class inmates, form a of and in the camp, their interactions heightening the stakes of the execution selection and providing foils to the protagonist's without dominating the action.

Adaptations and Reception

Film and Television Adaptations

The primary film and television adaptation of Graham Greene's The Tenth Man is a 1988 television movie produced as part of the series. Directed by , it premiered on on December 2, 1988, and follows the novel's core premise of a , Jean-Louis Chavel, who trades his identity with a fellow prisoner to avoid execution during the Nazi occupation of . The screenplay was written by Lee Langley, adapting Greene's 1985 , with a focus on the moral dilemmas of guilt, identity, and redemption in postwar . Anthony Hopkins stars as Chavel, delivering a nuanced portrayal of a man haunted by his survival; Derek Jacobi plays the imposter assuming Chavel's identity, earning acclaim for his intense performance; and Kristin Scott Thomas portrays Thérèse, the sister of the executed prisoner, in her early breakout role. Supporting cast includes Cyril Cusack as the aging servant and Brenda Bruce as the housekeeper. Production took place primarily in to authentically depict the WWII-era setting, utilizing locations like chateaus outside for interior and exterior scenes, though constrained by a typical television budget that emphasized dialogue-driven drama over expansive action. Compared to the novel's more ambiguous and restrained , the expands to heighten emotional confrontations between characters and provides a clearer resolution to Chavel's fate, emphasizing themes of through interpersonal revelations. Music by Lee Holdridge underscores the tension, while cinematography by captures the period's austerity. The film received widespread praise for its acting, particularly ' brooding intensity and Jacobi's transformative role, but drew some criticism for a sentimental tone that softened Greene's understated irony. It earned four Primetime Emmy nominations in , including Outstanding or , Outstanding Directing for a or (Jack ), and Outstanding Writing for a or (Lee Langley), with Jacobi winning for Outstanding in a or a . It also received three Golden Globe nominations in : Best or Television Film, Best Actor for , and Best for . As of 2025, the movie remains available on formats like DVD and Blu-ray, as well as streaming platforms including , , and .

Stage Adaptations and Critical Reception

In 1994, Kate Brooke adapted Graham Greene's The Tenth Man into a stage play, presented as a at the New End Theatre in , focusing intensely on the central confrontation between the protagonist Jean-Louis Chavel and the imposter Carosse, portrayed by Peter Aubrey and Barry Ewart, respectively. The production emphasized Greene's moral ironies and suspenseful plotting through seamless shifts between characters and roles, earning praise for its resourcefulness and the strong central performances that heightened the drama's emotional intensity. However, the limited run reflected mixed broader reception, with some critics appreciating the taut focus while others found the brevity constrained deeper exploration, leading to no major West End transfer. The adaptation's interest was partly spurred by the success of the 1988 , which earned an Emmy Award for Derek Jacobi's performance. No major revivals or further stage productions have been noted as of 2025. Upon its 1985 publication, The Tenth Man received generally positive for its concise thriller style and exploration of moral ambiguity, with reviewers highlighting the novella's clean pacing and ability to quicken the reader's pulse in its opening sections. noted its sparseness as a strength, evoking a of controlled akin to a , while praising Greene's own assessment that parts surpassed . Some critiques acknowledged its melodramatic elements but faulted attempts to layer philosophical depth, viewing the brevity as occasionally underdeveloped despite the strong thematic core of atonement for cowardice. Scholarly analysis of The Tenth Man often situates it within Greene studies for its motifs of , , and , portraying the narrative as a thrilling that probes and moral sacrifice amid wartime desperation. Comparisons frequently link it to earlier works like Brighton Rock as part of Greene's "Catholic novels," where guilt drives existential confrontation, though The Tenth Man's setting adds a layer of cultural . These discussions underscore its post-war resonance, emphasizing humanistic faith amid absurdity. Greene's legacy has sustained the novella's place through steady reprints and inclusion in collected editions, such as those compiling his shorter fictions, reflecting its enduring appeal as a compact entry in his oeuvre. By the early , it had seen consistent reissues, contributing to Greene's broader canon without dominating sales but maintaining relevance in literary discussions. In modern scholarship up to 2025, The Tenth Man inspires occasional papers on themes of and post-war , analyzing and the of survival choices, though it lacks major revivals or controversies.

References

  1. [1]
    The Tenth Man - Graham Greene - Penguin Books
    May 21, 2020 · Louis Chavel, a rich lawyer, draws the short straw and barters everything he owns to exchange places with another man and survive.
  2. [2]
    The Tenth Man | Book by Graham Greene - Simon & Schuster
    4–8 day delivery 30-day returnsA morally complex tale about a man at the mercy of deadly forces while being held in a German prison camp during World War II.
  3. [3]
    THE TENTH MAN - Kirkus Reviews
    Mar 29, 1985 · By his own admission (in a brief introduction here), Greene had completely forgotten the existence of an unpublished story called The Tenth ...
  4. [4]
    The Tenth Man by Graham Greene - Goodreads
    Rating 3.7 (5,319) During World War II a group of men is held prisoner by the Germans, who determine that three of them must die. This is the story of how one of those men ...
  5. [5]
    Tenth Man, The - Golden Globes
    Based on the novel of the same name by Graham Greene, this is a story of a French advocate Chavel who, while imprisoned by the Germans during the occupation, ...<|control11|><|separator|>
  6. [6]
    Greene Novel, Written in 40's, To Be Published
    ### Summary of The Tenth Man Conception and Early Development
  7. [7]
    Graham Greene The Tenth Man | PDF | Watch - Scribd
    Jim Braddon and the War Criminal. THERE IS AN OLD LEGEND THAT SOMEWHERE IN THE WORLD every man has his double. This is the strange story of Jim Braddon.Missing: script | Show results with:script
  8. [8]
  9. [9]
    Books: Grace Notes the Tenth Man | TIME
    Mar 11, 1985 · That is what happened to Author Graham Greene, 80, who learned in 1983 that something of his called The Tenth Man had been unearthed from the ...Missing: rediscovery agent
  10. [10]
    Grahan Greene's Odd Man Out - The Washington Post
    ... I prefer it in many ways to The Third Man, so that I had no longer any personal excuse for opposing publication even if I had the legal power, which was ...
  11. [11]
    BOOKS OF THE TIMES; - The New York Times
    Mar 4, 1985 · ... I prefer it in many ways to The Third Man , so that I had no longer any personal excuse for opposing publication even if I had the legal ...
  12. [12]
    An Insight into the themes of The Tenth Man by Graham Greene
    Jun 16, 2020 · Some of the major themes of the The Tenth are: loss of identity, sacrifice,. time, belongingness, choice and theme of betrayal and deception in ...
  13. [13]
    'The Tenth Man' - The New York Times
    Mar 10, 1985 · ''The Tenth Man'' is melodrama, which is O.K. But Greene attempts to invest it with philosophical meaning, and, really, it does not work.
  14. [14]
    Graham Greene: The Tenth Man - The Mookse and the Gripes
    Jul 28, 2008 · This is a short novel tightly packed into four parts. The basic premise is this: thirty Frenchmen are in a German prison camp during Word War II.
  15. [15]
    Themes of Identity, Sacrifice, and Betrayal in Greene's The Tenth Man
    Rating 4.4 (7) Graham Greene maintains a faith in human goodness that triumphs in the end. His characters show vice and virtue but ultimately it is the better side that ...
  16. [16]
    The Tenth Man - Trailers From Hell
    Aug 27, 2022 · This lesser-known suspense thriller is an excellent adaptation of a novel by Graham Greene, and a fine showcase for actor Anthony Hopkins ...
  17. [17]
    Themes of the Tenth Man.docx - Assignment Topic - College Sidekick
    Apr 28, 2024 · Forgiveness is also a central theme in the novel as characters confront the need to forgive both themselves and others in order to move forward.Missing: scholarly | Show results with:scholarly
  18. [18]
  19. [19]
    [PDF] GRAHAM GREENE: THE LINK TO FANTASY LINDA TRACEY
    In The Tenth Man Louis Chavel retums from prison after the war, ta his beloved home, with a new identity. He had bought his freedom with someone else's life ...
  20. [20]
    Anti-Hero to Hero: Chavel's Journey | PDF | Poetry - Scribd
    Chavel is introduced as an anti-hero in The Tenth Man. As a formerly wealthy lawyer now imprisoned, he is arrogant, cowardly, and self-centered.
  21. [21]
    The Tenth Man Chapter Summary | Graham-greene - Bookey
    Apr 22, 2025 · Chavel struggles with the social dynamics in the cramped prison cell, where his position as a lawyer sets him apart from fellow inmates. He ...Missing: plot | Show results with:plot
  22. [22]
    The Tenth Man: A Novel - Graham Greene - Google Books
    Apr 5, 2022 · When Jean-Louis Chauvel, a French lawyer incarcerated in a German prison camp, is informed by his captors that three prisoners must die, he ...
  23. [23]
    The Tenth Man summary - Books tldr
    The story begins in a prison in occupied France during the Second World War. It is decreed that one in every ten prisoners is to be executed.
  24. [24]
    The Tenth Man | Novelguide
    by Graham Greene The book " The Tenth Man" by Graham Greene takes place in France ... He singles out two, the Mayor of Bourge and Pierre an engine driver.
  25. [25]
    TV Weekend; A Graham Greene Tale - The New York Times
    Dec 2, 1988 · A successful lawyer named Jean-Louis Chavel, leaving his suburban chateau for his office in Paris, is suddenly arrested in an arbitrary roundup ...Missing: plot summary
  26. [26]
    Graham Greene's "The Tenth Man" (1988) - Turner Classic Movies
    A television movie about one Jean Louis Chavel, a wealthy attorney, who is wrongly imprisoned during the German occupation of France.
  27. [27]
    The Tenth Man (TV Movie 1988) - Full cast & crew - IMDb
    The Tenth Man ; Director. Edit · Jack Gold ; Writers. Edit · Graham Greene ; Producers. Edit · William Hill ; Composer. Edit · Lee Holdridge ; Cinematographer. Edit.
  28. [28]
    Television Reviews : 'Tenth Man' Not Up to 'Hall of Fame' Standards
    Dec 3, 1988 · As executed by writer Lee Langley and director Jack Gold, however, Greene's story is rarely convincing. More to Read. Denzel Washington, John ...
  29. [29]
    The Tenth Man (1988) - Rotten Tomatoes
    Rating 65% (17) A rich man sells his riches and in some cases his soul to a young man to escape the firing squad in world war 2 and when the rich man survives he must live with ...
  30. [30]
    the tenth man (tv movie) - Dennis Schwartz Reviews
    TV director Jack Gold (“Red Monarch”/”Deadly Game”) solidly helms this glossy TV movie thriller based on the 1985 Graham Greene novel The Tenth Man. The ...Missing: film adaptation
  31. [31]
    The Tenth Man (TV Movie 1988) - Awards - IMDb
    1989 Winner Primetime Emmy. Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Special. Derek Jacobi. For playing "The Imposter". Golden Globes, USA. Anthony ...
  32. [32]
  33. [33]
    Watch The Tenth Man | Prime Video - Amazon.com
    Rating 4.1 (120) After being imprisoned by Nazis and sentenced to execution by firing squad, a wealthy French attorney persuades a poor prisoner to trade places with him.
  34. [34]
    Watch The Tenth Man (1988) - Free Movies | Tubi
    In postwar France, a once-wealthy attorney deals with the fallout from a deadly deal he struck with a fellow inmate while imprisoned by the Nazis.
  35. [35]
    THEATRE / Measured solution to the problem play | The Independent
    Oct 23, 1994 · A brief but strong recommendation for The Tenth Man, resourcefully adapted by Kate Brooke from Graham Greene's 1944 story of cowardice and ...Missing: stage | Show results with:stage
  36. [36]
    HE CHEATED DEATH - The New York Times
    Mar 10, 1985 · The story? Thirty men are prisoners of the Nazis somewhere in occupied France, two of them bourgeois, the remainder working-class. One gets a ...Missing: plot summary
  37. [37]
    Notes | Graham Greene's Catholic Imagination | Oxford Academic
    In 1949 he writes, “I have always been preoccupied with the mystery of sin. It is always the foundation of my books” (Dieu Vivant, 127). After Vatican II, ...
  38. [38]
    September 2015 - Light On Dark Water
    Sep 27, 2015 · Unfortunately I found that his last published novel, The Tenth Man was one that he had written many years earlier as an idea for a movie, and ...
  39. [39]
    the tenth man, a profound faith in human goodness.pdf
    Graham Greene is a thriller and suspense writer for the stage. His works explore the moral and political issues of the modern world.
  40. [40]
    Graham Greene Books First Editions | Peter Harrington
    5.0 233 · 14-day returnsRare books by Graham Greene, including first edition, signed first edition ... The Tenth Man. London : 1985. £75.00. Stock Code: 181284. Add to ...
  41. [41]
    post-war existentialism in fiction: a reading of graham greene's "the ...
    The text explores existential themes in Graham Greene's novella, 'The Tenth Man', written in 1944 and published in 1985. Themes of absurdity, alienation, ...