A worthwhile read
4 stars
I loved the title of Revd Butler-Gallie's new book, Priests De La Resistance! In it he discusses the lives and, often, premature deaths of fifteen clergy - who actually turn out to include several nuns as well as priests - all of whom took the courageous decisions to attempt to thwart fascism. Some I already had an awareness of, such as Princess Alice who made an appearance in Les Parisiennes, but others were stories I don't think I had read before. Butler-Gallie mostly focuses on Resistance to Nazism across Second World War Europe, but finishes up across the Atlantic in Brazil and then Civil Rights era Alabama.
Each of our clergy gets a potted biography exploring their pre-ordained life and the immediate events which led or pushed them into making a stand. Several, such as Canon Kir, were larger than life characters with a lot of influence. Others, such as …
I loved the title of Revd Butler-Gallie's new book, Priests De La Resistance! In it he discusses the lives and, often, premature deaths of fifteen clergy - who actually turn out to include several nuns as well as priests - all of whom took the courageous decisions to attempt to thwart fascism. Some I already had an awareness of, such as Princess Alice who made an appearance in Les Parisiennes, but others were stories I don't think I had read before. Butler-Gallie mostly focuses on Resistance to Nazism across Second World War Europe, but finishes up across the Atlantic in Brazil and then Civil Rights era Alabama.
Each of our clergy gets a potted biography exploring their pre-ordained life and the immediate events which led or pushed them into making a stand. Several, such as Canon Kir, were larger than life characters with a lot of influence. Others, such as Jane Haining were quietly dedicated, but no less inspirational. I appreciated Butler-Gallie's sense of humour and the often irreverent way in which he describes his protagonists. I did initially feel this made the book feel a little too light for its subject matter so had gone with a three-star rating, but on thinking it over again in order to write this review, I am now of the opinion that the writing style actually benefits the eork by making it more accessible. Priests De La Resistance comes from the same tradition of religious writings as the Lives Of The Saints books I saw in childhood, but it is a long way removed from those dry worthy tomes!
In an age where fascism is making a resurgence across Europe and in America, Priests De La Resistance is a worthwhile read for sly tips on how to burst its bubble and for inspiration to stand up for what is right rather than popular. I'm not religious myself, but still found plenty to admire and to wish to emulate in Butler-Gallie's chosen figures. Priests De La Resistance would be suitable for older teenage readers - perhaps those studying the Holocaust at school - as well as adults.