Recent Fiction

Call of the Cloister

                FOR once it is possible wholeheartedly to agree with a publisher's "blurb" on a new novel.  It is indeed "astonishing" that a young woman of twenty-two should have the insight and knowledge to write so remarkable a novel on life in a monastery as The Climate of Belief (Gollancz, 16s.).

          The austerity of Jennifer Lash's title almost suggests a theological text-book.  Though far from that, this is a story with deep theological undertones and no mean appreciation of the fundamentals not only of the Religious life in particular, but of the Christian life itself as a whole.  No one could read it without being made to reflect on the reality of the love of God, and of the heights and depths of human endeavour to respond to that love in the wilderness of this world.

           Though the setting and climate of the story is Roman Catholic, the issues involved are of universal Christian appreciation.  The chief character, the monk Lucius, is intellectually brilliant, deeply sincere and loyal to his vocation as he sees it; but prevented by a proud concentration on himself from giving the help which others desperately desire from him until at last he is awakened by the embarrassment of a woman's affection, the apparent harshness of his Abbot's sudden decision to transfer him from the monastery to hard parish work, and the tragedy of a young man, a rejected novice, whom he fails miserably and utterly to rescue when he appeals to him for help.  Fr. Lucius is an entirely credible and also a memorable character whom any novelist might be proud to have created.

          As foil to Lucius, and involved in his spiritual pilgrimage through pride and failure to an apprehension at last, of what the love of God really means, there are minor characters each of whom is extraordinarily realistic.  There is a fine picture of the ageing Abbot, precluded by his affection for the younger man from doing his duty in time, and yet full of deep and humble spiritual insight:  the graceless but somehow pathetic monk, lacking all brilliance himself who cannot help in delighting in the difficulties of one whom he regards (with justice) as too proud by half:  the busy, practical parish priest whose mind runs on such things as new buildings and bingo after Benediction on Sundays rather than the troubles of the soul:  the boy whose bitter humiliation at being rejected by the Community of Credon drives him to suicide.  Even such small parts in the drama as those of the housekeeper at the presbytery and the novice-master are etched in with delicate skill and irony.

          The style which Miss Lash has invented for her purpose is original.  It is a highly nervous way of writing, which occasionally suffers from the effects of its own cleverness.  Sometimes, too, she gives the impression of struggling to communicate ideas which she has only imperfectly mastered.  But on the whole this is a novel as distinguished in style as in characterisation.  Given the fascination which the Religious life has for the public, it should have wide appeal.  But it is never sensational or crude.