The End of the Affair

by Graham Greene · 1951

Set against the smoky backdrop of wartime London, Graham Greene’s *The End of the Affair* follows the tangled lives of Maurice Bendix, a cynical writer, and Sarah Miles, the bored wife of a civil servant. Their chance encounter spirals into a passionate, clandestine affair that is as much a search for artistic truth as it is a desperate grasp for love. When a bombing spares Maurice’s life, Sarah abruptly ends the liaison, leaving him haunted by unanswered questions and a growing obsession with her faith. As the post‑war years unfold, Maurice confronts the painful clash between his relentless desire and Sarah’s deepening devotion to God, forcing both to reckon with guilt, loss, and the possibility of redemption. Greene weaves a haunting meditation on love, betrayal, and the elusive promise of grace, delivering a novel that lingers long after the final page.