A Burnt-Out Case by Graham Greene (1904-1991) is a celebrated novel about a famous architect who has lost his zest for life.

Architect M. Querry is world-renowned for his magnificent churches. But he admits, the churches were not designed for the glory of God, but for the satisfaction of self. He suddenly finds himself indifferent to not only his work, but to life itself. He travels to a colony of lepers in the remote jungles of Africa to simply put in time, perhaps make himself useful in his final days.

Although at one time a religious man, Querry is now a disbeliever. He becomes friends with Doctor Colin, a fellow atheist, who encourages the famous architect to design a hospital for the lepers. Querry seeks no recognition for his work; in fact, avoids any fanfare at all. But greatness is hard to hide and once the word is out that he is in their midst, he is haunted by his own greatness. His life is further complicated by a local hypocritical plantation owner and his young, lonely and abused wife.

I very much enjoyed Graham Greene’s strong sense of place, which in this case was Africa. The author traveled some of the wildest and most volatile parts of the world allowing the reader to inhabit for a time the images he created. I consider this novel a classic and recommend it to anyone with an interest in the human spirit as well as a fascination with the mysteries of Africa.