The greatest 20th century Catholic novels
The great Anthony Esolen has posted his suggestion for the 10 greatest Catholic novels in English of the 20th century.
How’s his list?
1. Sigrid Undset, Kristin Lavransdatter – UK HERE
2. J. R. R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings – UK HERE (If you’ve only seen the movies, you know nothing of joy.)
3. Francois Mauriac, Vipers’ Tangle – UK HERE
4. Riccardo Bacchelli, The Mill on the Po – UK HERE
5. Evelyn Waugh, Brideshead Revisited – UK HERE
6. Graham Greene, The Power and the Glory – UK HERE
7. Georges Bernanos, Diary of a Country Priest – UK HERE
8. Sigrid Undset, The Master of Hestviken – UK HERE
9. Flannery O’Connor, The Violent Bear It Away – UK HERE
10. Heinrich Boll, The Clown – UK HERE
I have read most of them. I have NOT read The Mill on the Po… a riff on a another famous book.
I might also suggest Eugenio Corti, The Red Horse – UK HERE
Some might suggest Shusaku Endo, Silence – UK HERE I read it recently and found it deeply depressing, in an uplifting way. There will soon be a film released by Martin Scorsese. Off the top of my head I can also think of Rumor Godden, In This House Of Brede – UK HERE. Perhaps novels by Michael O’Brien, Father Elijah (or maybe better the trilogy that flows around it) – UK HERE.
