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

Richard Griffiths

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0826496970 ISBN 13: 9780826496973

Publisher: Continuum, 2010

Synopsis

This incisive and perceptive new book concerns 'Catholic Literature' in Britain since 1850. To many people, Roman Catholicism is culturally foreign and 'other'. And yet some of the most outstanding writers of recent times have been Catholics - often converts, such as Evelyn Waugh, Graham Greene, Muriel Spark and David Jones. In every case these authors' Catholicism was integral to their creative genius and they represent an important strand in any account of English literature. Professor Griffiths' account is set against a wide and varied canvas. It gives a full account of the growth of Catholicism as a cultural, social and political force in Great Britain since Newman. Griffiths is concerned also to relate his story to movements on the continent and examines on his way the impact of French Catholic writers such as Huysmans, Peguy and Mauriac on their British counterparts and the influence of British Catholic writers such as Newman, Faber and Chesterton on Europe.

About this title

Review:

Topical and illuminating.... a thought-provoking and informative read --Country Life

'He [Richard Griffiths] provides a sense of the overall shape of the English Catholic literary tradition, but, more than that, he offers glimpses of its riches.' --The Tablet, 23rd October

'Griffiths covers over a 100 years of religious poetry... an interesting survey' --The Catholic Herald, 29th October

'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, December

'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.' --Church Times

About the Author:

Richard Griffiths was Chair of French at University College Cardiff and at Kings College, University of London, UK.'

About this edition

• Publisher: Continuum
• Publication date: 2010
• ISBN 10: 0826496970
• ISBN 13: 9780826496973
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 272