In "The Basement Room," filmed as "The Fallen Idol," a small boy witnesses something that blights his whole life. Like the other stories in this book (written between 1929 and 1954), it hinges on the themes that dominate Graham Greene's novels — fear, pity and violence, pursuit, betrayal, and man's restless search for salvation.

Some of the stories are comic — poor Mr Maling's stomach mysteriously broadcasts all sorts of sounds; sometimes, wryly sad — a youthful indiscretion catches up with Mr Carter in "The Blue Film"; sometimes, deeply shocking — a gang of children systematically destroys a man's house while he is on holiday; and sometimes, hauntingly tragic — a strange relationship between twins that reaches its climax at a children's party.

But whatever the mood, each one is a compelling entertainment, unmistakably the work of the finest story-teller of our time