Catholic Literary Giants: A Field Guide to the Catholic Literary Landscape

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1586179446 ISBN 13: 9781586179441

Publisher: Ignatius Press, 2014

Joseph Pearce has firmly established himself as the premiere literary biographer of our time, especially in interpreting the spiritual depths of the Catholic literary tradition. In this book, Pearce examines a plethora of famous authors, taking the reader through a dazzling tour of the creative landscape of Catholic prose and poetry. Catholic Literary Giants covers the vast and impressive terrain from Dante to Tolkien, from Shakespeare to Waugh.

Focusing especially on the literary revival of the 20th century, Pearce explores well-known authors like G.K. Chesterton, Graham Greene and J.R.R. Tolkien, but also introduces readers to lesser-known writers like Roy Campbell, Maurice Baring, and Owen Barfield. He even includes the new saint, John Paul II, who wrote many literary and poetic pieces, including one long poetic “meditation” that was made into a feature film, The Jeweler’s Shop.

Anyone who appreciates English literature will be entranced by the wealth and depth of this masterpiece.

About the Author:

Joseph Pearce is the author of numerous literary works including Literary Converts, The Quest for Shakespeare and Shakespeare on Love, and the editor of the Ignatius Critical Editions series. His other books include literary biographies of Oscar Wilde, J.R.R. Tolkien, C. S. Lewis, G. K. Chesterton and Alexander Solzhenitsyn.

Review:

"In the years to come, Joseph Pearce will himself be better known as one of the literary giants of our times. Wisdom, wit, insight, original thought—it is all here. Pearce is more than an educated intellect. He is a mind awake." --Michael D. O'Brien, Author, Father Elijah

"One is agog at the sheer 'achieve of the thing', as G.M. Hopkins would put it. Mr. Pearce covers the entire waterfront and more here. We have come to expect vastly astute, fair, generous and perspicacious work from Pearce, and this book crowns everything that he has written thus far." --Thomas Howard, Author, Dove Descending: A Journey into T.S. Eliot's "Four Quartets"

"Pearce has woven a fascinating tapestry of literary criticism, history and ancient faith. It is very good to see the Catholic literary giants emerge from the shadows." --Dale Ahlquist, President, American Chesterton Society