Landscapes of Encounter : The Portrayal of Catholicism in the Novels of Brian Moore

The author points out that the Northern Ireland-born Brian Moore (1921-1999) is one of the few novelists whose literary portrayal of Catholicism effectively spans the period prior to and following the Second Vatican Council. He notes that many critics have discussed how Moore's life is reflected in his works, while others have dismissed his fictions as simple narratives in the mould of classical realism. The author contends that Moore's fictions are far more complex, as he was one of the great observers of Catholicism in all its modern and historical controversy. He argues that Moore's writings thus portray a world where religion is in constant encounter, and often conflict, with alternative cultural, ideological, and theological worldviews. Moore lived in Montreal from 1948 to 1958 where he wrote his first "Irish" novels, The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne (1955) and The Feast of Lupercal (1957). The Luck of Ginger Coffey (1960) is set in Montreal.

Calgary, AB

University of Calgary Press

2002

xvi-296p.

en

1-55238-048-3