Travels with My Aunt by Graham Greene is a witty and light-hearted novel that follows the adventures of a former bank manager, Henry Pulling, and his Aunt Augusta as they travel around Europe and get into various hijinks. Henry is a prim and proper English gentleman who lives a fairly mundane and orderly life. His Aunt Augusta is everything Henry is not - eccentric, daring, and a bit of a con artist. When the two get together, all sorts of chaos ensue.
The book begins with a meeting of the two protagonists. Though they have barely met before, Henry is determined to enjoy his aunt’s company and invites her over for tea. That evening, Aunt Augusta reveals that she is wanted by the police and needs to leave the country. She then asks Henry to come with her, launching a journey of international crime and subterfuge that spans five countries.
The first stop on their voyage is Paris, where they are joined by the mysterious and mysterious figure of V.W. Beatrice, who is somehow connected to Augusta’s secrets. In Paris, they encounter a variety of characters, some of dubious character, some of whom help them in their escape. As the book progresses, Henry pulls even more far-fetched cons, which Aunt Augusta helps him pull off.
After leaving Paris, Henry and Augusta’s next stop is Milan, where they find themselves mixed up in a convoluted money-laundering scheme. Next, they hop across the Swiss border, eventually ending up in Tangier, Morocco. There, they find themselves entangled in a web of espionage, threats, and double crosses.
As the journey progresses, Henry gradually transforms from a staid, retiring bank manager into someone with a bit of an adventurer’s spirit. While Augusta is not exactly a positive role model, her very presence in Henry’s life encourages him to take risks and expand his horizons.
Though the two manage to stay a step ahead of their pursuers until the end, their misadventures don’t end without consequences. Henry’s quiet life becomes deliciously complicated as he begins to live in the present rather than dwelling upon past mistakes and unmet goals.
Travels with My Aunt is a highly entertaining read that simultaneously captures the excitement of adventure and the sometimes-tragic consequences the arise in its wake. While the novel is unlikely to offer many life lessons, its humorous exchanges and charmingly reprehensible characters will certainly leave readers wanting more.
