10 Literary types who refused the CBE

1. J. G. Ballard, author (in 2003; "the honours system is a Ruritanian charade that helps to prop up the top-heavy monarchy.").
2. Julian Barnes, novelist
3. Honor Blackman, actress (in 2002; she is a republican)
4. C. S. Forester, novelist (in 1953)
5. Robert Graves, poet and novelist (in 1957; later declined appointment as CH in 1984)
6. Graham Greene, author (in 1956) (later accepted appointment as CH and OM, neither of which are titles granting rank or precedence)
7. C. S. Lewis, author, theologian, Oxford professor (in 1951, declined in order to avoid association with any political issues)
8. Seán O'Casey, playwright (in 1963)
9. Sue Townsend novelist and playwright
10. Evelyn Waugh, novelist (in 1959, wanted a knighthood

The Third Man

Still trying to read some shorter classics. I picked up Graham Greene's The Third Man from the Library the other day. It also has the short story Fallen idol (also known as The Basement room) with it (online see here). See here. Both were made into films in the forties or fifties. I seem to remember seeing some of The Third Man once on TV with its haunting zither theme (by Anton Karas). The book itself is fine for what it is, the story of a small time racketeer. I presume it was written for film. It's very cinematic. It seems to capture a now gone world and the story of a few caught up in it.