Catholic nationalism in the Irish revival
Subtitle: a study of Canon Sheehan, 1852-1913
By: Ruth Fleischmann.
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Published: 1997
Place of publication: New York
Language: eng
Number of pages: 188
Subjects: Sheehan, Patrick Augustine, 1852-1913 -- Political and social views.; Catholic Church -- Ireland -- History -- 19th century.; Catholic Church -- In literature.; Politics and literature -- Ireland -- History -- 19th century.; Politics and literature -- Ireland -- History -- 20th century.; Christian fiction, English -- History and criticism.; Political fiction, English -- History and criticism.; Catholic fiction -- History and criticism.; Catholics -- Ireland -- Intellectual life.; Nationalism in literature.; Catholics in literature.; Ireland -- In literature.
Description: Canon Sheehan's writings provide valuable insight into Ireland's difficult process of cultural reconstruction after independence. This astute observer of Irish society was pessimistic about the future of religion. Though himself a man of European culture, he made a case for isolationism to become reality under the Free State. It is a case which today is easily scorned - but his works allow us to understand why it could command such support, and to appreciate its relative historical justification.

His particular concern lay in overcoming the social stigma attached to Catholicism and in incalcating in his readers a sense of pride in their religious heritage as the essence of their national identity. His position bears a close resemblance to that of the eighteenth century Anglo-Irish formulators of Irish nationalism, who also assumed that the right of their 'nation' to cultural supremacy was self-evident.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. 179-184) and index.