One day, a mysterious stranger known as 'The Captain' arrives at the school, says he won Baxter from his father in a game of backgammon, and takes him on an outing from which he never returns. The Captain delivers Victor to a dismal basement flat in London where Liza lives. She is the Captain's mistress and ex-lover of Victor's father. Liza has lost her baby, and the Captain wants her to have someone with her since he is often absent. They change the boy's name to 'Jim', and he decides to stay there as their stepson.

Over many years the Captain, a petty criminal and soldier of fortune, frequently disappears on mysterious missions and finally, seems to have abandoned Liza and the boy. Eventually Jim becomes a journalist and travels to Panama to confront the Captain. He soon learns the truth about this man and his secret escapades.

Green has always been skillful at creating unhappy children and writing from the naive point of view of a child. (The Stranger's Hand is a wonderful example of this.) Victor 'Jim' Baxter is a sad reflection of his environment. He is disconnected emotionally, showing little depth, love or caring. As his mother lay dying, he gave her a "formal kiss on the forehead" and seemed to feel no loss. He has little connection with Liza, . . . For autobiography of Graham Greene go to http://www.lancette-arts-journal.ca/book_nonfiction06.htm

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