Travels with My Aunt
by Graham Greene
Why read it
This charming, gently mischievous picaresque pairs a stuffy, retired suburban bank manager who lives for his dahlias with his flamboyantly amoral septuagenarian Aunt Augusta. After reconnecting at a family funeral, she sweeps him away on a freewheeling journey across Europe and South America, unraveling a past filled with illicit schemes, past lovers, and bohemian misadventures. It is witty, sharp, and celebrated as one of Greene's lightest, most genuinely joyful entertainments.
Where to get it
For audio, the standout unabridged reading by Tim Pigott-Smith is widely available to stream or buy in the Netherlands via Storytel, Nextory, Kobo Plus, Audible, Google Play Books, and Apple Books. You can also borrow English-language digital audiobooks and ebooks through the Online Bibliotheek (using the national library app). If you want a physical copy, order it online via Bol.com or pick up an English paperback at Dutch bookstores like Athenaeum Boekhandel, Scheltema, Donner, or the American Book Center.
What to expect
A dry, ironic, and satirical tone that balances high comedy with touches of melancholic reflection. The pacing moves smoothly through episodic globe-trotting chapters with brisk banter and low cognitive strain. Content notes include references to drug use (cannabis), mild violence, crime, and occasional period-typical social and racial attitudes from the late 1960s.
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