Published in 1955, this is the fictional account of a British journalist's time in Vietnam during the French war there (AKA First Indochina War). The narrator, Fowler, meets Vietnamese civilians and resistance fighters, French soldiers, and an American who brings both personal and political problems. The author weaves romance into the political situation, which can at times seem distracting but ultimately works into the plot very well. The last two portions of the book contain the most political and war action, and wraps up the mystery with which the book opens. Through Fowler the author presents a highly critical viewpoint regarding the West's involvement in Southeast Asia, although Fowler is not a perfect or heroic narrator.
This book is reminiscent of George Orwell's Burmese Days, both being anti-colonial in their depictions of the West and Southeast Asia. While Orwell's work is more complicated than the relatively straightforward story told in The Quiet American, the latter is still an excellent example of Western writers presenting a counternarrative to challenge the prevailing perceptions of their countries and eras.
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