Graham Greene referred to Brighton Rock as a detective story which turned into an 'error of judgement' and later wished he had abandoned the first fifty pages.

The setting is an imaginary Brighton but various features are depicted; such as the Palace Pier, racecourse and the slum area of Nelson Row (now demolished). It is here where the main character, Pinkie Brown, a young gang leader of particular menace, lives. The book, with its underlying religious themes and imagery, contrasts good and evil, obsession and menace. The two opposing characters in the struggle for 'Good over Evil' are Pinkie and the jovial Ida, a member of a troupe of players, with a raucous laugh. Ida wants to protect Rose, a waitress in a seafront café who has unwittingly become involved in Hale's murder. Pinkie wants to stop Rose giving evidence, which he does by marrying her in the registry office, an act which sickens him.

Poor timid Rose is loyal and pliant and Pinkie subjects her to his hell - the world around him. Pinkie and Rose are influenced by the Holy Ghost - spirit of religion, and Ida by the ghostly spirits of the supernatural. This is a powerful book, much more than just a gripping tale of murder, which explores the deadly effect of vice, power of violence and the influence of the razor gangs in 1930s Brighton.

If you love "Brighton Rock" then make sure you come on the "Brighton Rock" walk which takes place in this years Brighton Festival fringe. Learn all about the making of the film and visit locations featured in the film.
Tickets are available from the Brighton festival fringe website: http://www.brightonfestivalfringe.org.uk/
also from the Dome box office.