100 Best Catholic Novels. Or, How to Buy a Catholic Library for Christmas
My purpose is merely to recommend good books, specifically books written by Catholic writers that are worthy of the reader's attention
I welcome any controversy that may ensue from this list; in fact I will be disappointed if no one takes me to task. I'm always anxious to learn of titles I don't know, or have forgotten, or should know better, or be reminded that my own certainties may be unfounded.
Alessandro Manzoni (1785-1873), the Italian novelist, whose masterpiece, I Promessi Sposi (The Betrothed), began the tradition of what can be called the 'Catholic novel.'
PrintWASHINGTON, DC (Catholic Online) - There is no grand metaphysic or aesthetic theory behind the making of this list.
Its purpose is merely to recommend good books, specifically books written by Catholic writers that are worthy of the reader's attention. For the most part these novels have explicitly Catholic themes and perspectives.
That a great novel can have explicit religious themes of any kind is a tribute to the artistry of the writer since such explicitness is usually deadly to writing of any kind. I have included a few selections that will not strike the reader as "Catholic" since such signposts are either missing or even rejected outright.
Any good list should be controversial by the inclusion of choices potentially deemed questionable by some, perhaps intimating a certain absence of Catholic earnestness on the part of the chooser. I welcome any controversy that may ensue from this list; in fact I will be disappointed if no one takes me to task.
I'm always anxious to learn of titles I don't know, or have forgotten, or should know better, or be reminded that my own certainties may be unfounded.
Some of the novels listed are difficult to acquire, others are a click away at a modest cost. The year of publication references the original language edition.
A final note -- Readers may immediately notice that I've not included the great Fyodor Dostoyevsky or any writer from one of the Orthodox traditions.
This is not meant as a slight, but rather the recognition of a literary tradition that differs in significant ways.
Adalbert Stifter, Rock Crystal, 1845.
Joris-Karl Huysmans, En route, 1895.
Henryk Sienkiewicz, Quo Vadis, 1895.
Wladyslaw Reymont, The Comedienne, 1896.
Leon Bloy, The Woman Who Was Poor, 1897.
Antonio Fogazzaro, Little World of the Past, 1901.
Robert Hugh Benson, Lord of the World, 1907.
G.K. Chesterton, The Man Who Was Thursday, 1908.
Sigrid Undset, Kristin Lavansdatter, 1920-22.
Sigrid Undset, Master of Hestviken, 1925-27.
Georges Bernanos, Under the Star of Satan, 1926.
Francois Mauriac, Therese, 1928.
Su Xuelin, Heart of the Thorn Bush, 1929.
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What a wonderful list. I love to read and it's great to know there's so much good Catholic reading out there. I hope you will consider my most favorite book for this list - The Fountain of Arethusa by Maurice Zermatten. I wish more of his books were translated, so I could read them.
What a great list! I did not recognize nearly half of the authors/titles. What a challenge! I expected Mr. Hudson to include Flannery O'Connor and Walker Percy. I did not expect Jack Kerouac. I do appreciate the previous comments as well.
As a writer who's Catholic, I appreciate the list. Please consider looking at The 12th Disciple as your potential 101st.
Cheers and Merry Christmas!
ONE MORE! In the fun spirit of G.K. Chesterton, I have to add the Catholic novel Museum of Heretics! For True Satire Lovers! A 21st century satire rich with Catholic truth! MUSEUM OF HERETICS defines the Catholic Church of western civilization at its crossroads. In the spirit of C.S. Lewis and G.K. Chesterton, Father Elmo Walsh is the Rocky Balboa of pre-Vatican II doctrine and immutability, while his young assistant, Father Teilhard (Bud) Tanner personifies liberal Catholicism in its various manifestations. An ecclesiastical odd couple to remember! If you love mild satire by its classical definitions, if you enjoy G.K. Chesterton and C.S. Lewis, if you desire a better understanding of conservative & liberal Catholics, you will enjoy MUSEUM OF HERETICS (at Lulu.com). Visiting the rectory has never been so much fun!!!!
While I appreciate the fact that the writer is free to compile a bibliography of his own choosing, I feel that many non-Catholics write from a Catholic perspective. This to me is the more important fact since the writing itself teaches the reader about Catholicism. Willa Cather is one example of a surperb writer using the Catholic perspective. Death Comes for the Archbishop and The Shadow on the Rock are two outstanding examples of her work. Having said that, I am grateful for the bibliography as I am unfamiliar with some of the writers.