Title: Catholic nationalism in the Irish revival
First published: 1997
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 the 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 inculcating 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.
Subjects: Catholic Church, Catholic fiction, Catholics, Catholics in literature, Christian fiction, English, English Christian fiction, English Political fiction, History, History and criticism, In literature, Intellectual life, Nationalism in literature, Political and social views, Political fiction, English, Politics and literature, Catholic church, ireland, Political fiction, history and criticism, Ireland, in literature, Christian literature, history and criticism
Places: Ireland
People: Patrick Augustine Sheehan (1852-1913)
Time periods: 19th century, 20th century
LC classification: PR5377.S5 Z66 1997