Catholic Literary France; From Verlaine to the Present Time
Milwaukee: The Bruce Publishing Company, 1938. First edition. Octavo, original blue cloth, coated scarlet endpapers, top edge red, original dust jacket. Book fine, several penciled notes, mild toning, modest chipping to spine head of price-clipped dust jacket. Scarce. Item #1089
"THERE IS ONLY ONE COUNTRY THAT CAN BOAST OF BEING 'THE ELDEST DAUGHTER OF THE CHURCH,' AND THAT COUNTRY IS FRANCE"
First edition of Sister Jerome's Introduction to the Catholic Literary Revival in France—"the eldest daughter of the Church." Complete in the scarce original "fleur-de-lis" dust jacket, this study (from the publisher's Science and Culture series) includes French literary figures such as Paul Verlaine, Joris-Karl Huysmans, Francois Mauriac, Charles Péguy, and Paul Claudel. With a short Preface by the General Editor ("Joseph Husslein, S.J, Ph.D. / General Editor, Science and Culture Series / St. Louis University, / November 16, 1937") discussing the unique scope of the study ("No other book of this kind exists today") and encouraging its use as the starting point for further study: "The present volume renders for the first time a judicious and scholarly study, written in pleasant English style, and acquainting us with the unique and often brilliant literary work of Catholic writers in contemporary France." Each chapter concludes with a dual list of Principal Works and a shortlist of References. The last chapter appends a preliminary discussion of women writers. The author's concluding Postscript ("What May We Hope for the Future?") predicts a French Catholic literary legacy: "it seems safe to wager that the Catholic Revival in France has produced a number of works that will always be shelved with the world's classics." With Sr. Jerome's Dedication: "To the Memory of My Brother / The Reverend Leo W. Keeler." Notes of Chapters, General Bibliography, Index. A pleasing copy.
Price: $75.00