Antiquarian Books

Rare and antique books are my passion, I enjoy talking to others who love books and reading.

Monday, December 12, 2005

Anti-Catholic Novels

The middle of the nineteenth century was a hotbed of anti-catholicism, exploring the themes of sex,death and convent life. These were often written by women and passed off as autobiographies. The most famous is The Awful Disclosures of Maria Monk. By the start of the Civil War, it would have sold 300,000 copies. It was reprinted, under varying titles by various publishing houses, at least half a dozen times just in 1836, and continued to be reprinted well into the twentieth century.
The Female Jesuit published in 1853 claims to be an autobiography of Marie who leaves the convent to go to work for a Protestant family. At first all is well but then Marie turns into a sly, cunning and spiteful creature who imposes harm on the family and herself. This deviant behavior is obviously because she is a lay sister of a religious order and employed by the Jesuits to spy and cause harm to Protestant families. The story ends with the employer asking "How many other governesses or household servants, or even other “escaped nuns”, whose story has been concealed from regard to their safety, may now be aiding the purposes of the Jesuits in this country? It is well worthy of inquiry."
If you are interest in this Victorian take on the Catholic church please come take a look at http://www.pecantreebooks.com/adult82.html