Early Graham Greene Work Found At Ransom Center

Third Man? More like FOURTH! Everyone’s favorite Donnie Darko shout-out author, Graham Greene, has apparently had a hidden work unearthed by a Greene scholar named Francois Gallix, who was doing time here at the Harry Ransom Center. Right here in Austin. Over a year ago, but whatever. To some of us, this is still big news.

It is reported to be a murder-mystery named The Empty Chair. And you can read the first chapter here.

The rest of the known work is going to be published by mystery-peddlers The Strand in serial format. For those of you unfamiliar with this format, it is one which requires the reader to return periodically to the primary publication (a magazine, in this case) to see if there are new addendums to the prior set of stories… sort of like a cliff-hanger, but instead of intentional suspense you will get sweet advertisements for stuff.

Actually, there will be a cliff-hanger of sorts in this. The Empty Chair, now considered by many to be Greene’s first story, was not actually finished by Greene. His 22 year-old self neglected to finish the work, but The Strand hopes to commission someone else to polish it off. And in that respect, is it really his first work? Or just an early orphan on the path of a future writer’s development? Eh?

Regardless, it is quite nice to know that The Ransom Center continues to keep it real on a national scale for Austin’s literary enthusiasts.