Jesuits: A Multibiography

Portrays the history of the Jesuits in relation to world events of the past five centuries, describing how the Society of Jesus came to be the most powerful Christian religious order

Lacouture, a French journalist and biographer (De Gaulle. Vol. 1: The Rebel, 1890-1944, LJ 11/15/90), here presents a series of biographies of prominent Jesuits from the founder, Ignatius of Loyola, down to such modern disciples as Karl Rahner, Daniel Berrigan, and Robert Drinan. Condensed from the two-volume French original, the translation is marred by some inaccuracies and poor word choices. Showing a definite liberal bias and offering anachronistic criticisms, Lacouture writes in an abrasive, journalistic style, speaking of "Church busybodies" and "the noises coming out of Rome," and making no bones about the fact that he disagrees with the exclusion of women from the Roman Catholic priesthood. At the end, Lacouture raises the question of why men would choose to be Jesuits and cannot answer it. He offers a lot of interesting facts but little understanding. Suitable only for the most comprehensive collections.?Augustine J. Curley, Newark Abbey, N.J.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Quite apart from its obvious appeal as an informative history of the Jesuit order, this "multibiography" (first published in French in 1991) is a collection of entertaining stories that will appeal even to audiences that do not have a special interest in Jesuit history. The historical development of the Society of Jesus since its sixteenth-century inception coincides so closely with the history of European expansion that a thorough account of the Jesuits has world historical significance--particularly to the extent that prominent Jesuits were trailblazers in a gradual shift from a straightforward Christian apologetics of conquest to reflection on the significance of cultural contact. Insofar as particular stories of particular people and places are the best sources of global insight, this is an especially valuable work. It includes a helpful chronology and an excellent basic bibliography (weighted toward French sources but still useful in English) for readers who wish to pursue more specialized research. Steve Schroeder