The Pen and the Cross: Catholicism and English Literature 1850 - 2000 - Hardcover

Griffiths, Richard

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0826496970 ISBN 13: 9780826496973

Publisher: Continuum, 2010

Synopsis

An illuminating study looking at an influential group of Roman Catholic novelists and writers - Chesterton, Belloc, Waugh, Greene, Spark and David Lodge among others.

About this title

About the Author:

Professor Richard Griffiths has recently retired as Professor of French at King's College London.

Review:

'Particularly illuminating with respect to the differences between English and French traditions...Griffiths' book is an overview of a tradition that is still, in many respects, little known. His literary judgements are robust, and generally sensible.' (The American Spectator)

'Anyone who wants to understand what it is about traditional Catholicism that attracts so many converts and repels so many others will find Prof Griffith's book a thought-provoking, informative read.' (Country Life)

'Griffiths covers over a 100 years of religious poetry... an interesting survey' (The Catholic Herald)

'In The Pen and the Cross, Richard Griffiths takes on a vast topic. As a professor of French he brings a special competence to the work' (Literary Review)

'The Pen and the Cross is a hugely enjoyable survey of the last 150 years of Catholic Literature.' (The Catholic Times)

'Griffiths offers an overview of the contribution made by Roman Catholicism to English Literature... I was especially struck by his insight into English and French Catholic literature.' (thegoodbookstall.org.uk)

'Richard Griffith's scholarly and immensely readable book deals not with the Roman Catholic Novel alone, but also with Catholic poetry.' (The Church Times)

The book is a really learned and sometimes brilliant discussion of the role and place of religion, especially of a self-conscious minority, in a nation's literature and the comparisons with France are illuminating. (Contemporary Review)

Griffiths usefully sketches... the difference between the circumstances facing Catholic writers in France and in England before, say, the Second Vatican Council of 1962-5. (The Times Literary Supplement)

'Griffiths covers over a 100 years of religious poetry... an interesting survey' (Sanford Lakoff)

About this edition

• Publisher: Continuum
• Publication date: 2010
• ISBN 10: 0826496970
• ISBN 13: 9780826496973
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 272