Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Ten best episodes of drunkenness in fiction

At the Guardian, John Mullan named ten of the best episodes of drunkenness in literature.

One novel on the list:
The Power and the Glory, by Graham Greene

This is boozing as a heroic sign of humanity. Greene's "whisky priest" needs brandy to keep himself brave. He is drunk for much of the novel. "A little drink will work wonders in a cowardly man. With a little brandy, why I'd defy the devil."
Read about all ten episodes of drunkenness on Mullan's list.

--Marshal Zeringue