Recently, after dealing with the last illness and death of my mother, i have found in goddens writings on faith comfort and support. This detailed literature summary also contains topics for discussion on in this house of brede by rumer godden. Click to read more about in this house of brede by rumer godden. And for the financially troubled brede and the acolytes within, it will take no less than a miracle to weather the storm. Black narcissus was made into a famous movie with deborah kerr in 1947. Librarything is a cataloging and social networking site for booklovers. Godden wrote novels, poetry, plays, biographies, and books for children.
Rumer godden 19071998 was the author of more than sixty works of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and childrens literature, and is considered by many to be one of the foremost english language writers of the twentieth century. Rumer godden is an author who should definitely be remembered. In this house of brede by rumer godden librarything. I second the readers opinion because its fantastic. Digital rights management drm the publisher has supplied this book in encrypted form, which means that you need to install free software in order to unlock and read it. In this house of brede tells the story of philippa, a successful businesswoman with a past, who follows gods leading to enter a monastery in brede england in the 1950s. Rumer godden books list of books by author rumer godden. Abbess catherine read while the nuns made soft exclamations of congratulation and admiration. In this house of brede book by rumer godden 8 available. See all books authored by rumer godden, including the story of holly and ivy, and in this house of brede, and more on. Bruised by tragedy, philippa talbot leaves behind a successful career with the civil service for a new calling.
Buy in this house of brede by rumer godden online at alibris. In this house of brede is her strongest and most complex work, and one i have found particularly valuable during the last few months. Author rumer godden spent three years living in close proximity to stanbrook abbey in worcestershire communing with the benedictine nuns in preparation for the writing of. The central figure in the book is religious life and it is shown with a gritty realism that keeps this book from being fluffy. I first saw in this house of brede by rumer godden on anne bogels 20 absorbing doorstop for your summer reading list. I was not very impressed with the thin nature of the movie. Author rumer godden spent three years living in close proximity to stanbrook abbey in worcestershire communing with the benedictine nuns in preparation for the writing of this beloved bestseller. The spellbinding house of brede rumer goddens 1969 novel, in this house of brede, remains a rich and edifying excursion into the religious life. Margaret rumer godden was born in sussex, but grew up in india, in narayanganj. I though i was very well as i was, she told the brede sacristan later, a human, balanced person with a reasonable record. She is the author of many novels, including in this house of brede, black narcissus, the river, and five for sorrow, ten for joy. Rumer godden 190798 was born in england, began writing fiction as an adult living in india, and continued a successful writing career after moving back to england. After finishing the book, i had the opportunity to see the movie made during the early 70s. Godden converted to catholicism in 1968, the year before she wrote this book and spent three years living at the gate of a benedectine abbey in england.
Rumer godden s most popular book is in this house of brede. She was born december 10, 1907 in sussex, england and grew up with her three sisters in narayananj, which was then part of colonial india. In this gripping narrative of the crises surrounding the ancient brede abbey, rumer godden penetrates to the mysterious, inner heart of a religious communitya place of complexity and conflict, as well as joy and love. In this house of brede is perhaps the better of the pair as its story is mostly very believable, and the plot development is the more satisfying. However, like a lot of people i do sometimes feel the need to recharge the spiritual batteries every so often and one book that is guaranteed to do the job for me is rumer goddens marvelous novel about life in a convent, in this house of brede. Though rumer godden was a roman catholic rather than eastern in her profession, that certain and bright sadness that pervades orthodoxy informs her great novel, in this house of brede. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read in this house of brede. Brede has also inspired me to contact the abbey where rumer godden wrote this, stanbrooke, and i feel like ive met old friends. Rumer godden had an unusual education, which in latter years involved her writing a precis of the editorial of the times every day a house with 4 rooms. The novel in this house of brede follows the journey of successful business woman philippa talbot as she leaves her life to become a nun at brede, a benedictine monastery. Philippa talbot is godden s protagonist, the icon who becomes saturated with the bright sadness over the course of the story of brede. Rumer godden wrote some 60 works during her life, drawing on her experiences of life in india and britain.
Philippa talbot leaves behind a lover and a successful career in the civil service to pursue life in a. Rumer godden has 96 books on goodreads with 56711 ratings. In her seventies, she retired to moniaive in dumfriesshire. This book is a trip back to religious life prevatican ii. It is a place where philippa, to her own surprise and. A welltodo london businesswoman gives up her comfortable life, including the man who loves her, to become a cloistered benedictine nun. In this house of brede by rumer godden in this house of brede by rumer godden phillipa talbot is a successful british woman who is a midlevel bureaucrat in the government, a high position for a woman in the 1950s. You all know how long dame agnes has worked on her book, with what scrupulous care and patience, and with her permission i should like to read you what this notably erudite man has said. Coincidentally, i managed to find a copy of rumer goddens novel, in this house of brede and set down to read it. The ballad of songbirds and snakes from the author that brought you the hunger games, reenter the world of panem again sixtyfour years before the events of the original series. Although book is lengthy, it is a fairly quick read.
In this house of brede has 8 available editions to buy at half price books marketplace. Why, oh why, are catholic writers so much better at. The spellbinding house of brede catholic world report. Margaret rumer godden, writing under the name rumer godden, wrote over sixty books. Brede abbey is a benedictine monastery in the south of england. Philippa talbot is goddens protagonist, the icon who becomes saturated with the. When brede was reissued on vhs, i watched the movie again, and remembered how much i enjoyed it. A strange peace settled over me as i began to read rumer goddens in this house of brede.
Rumer godden died a year later on november 8, 1998, in thornhill, scotland, at the age of 90. From the first page to the last, amid all the turmoil and joy to be found in this cloistered community, this peace settled down and never left me. Rumer godden was the author of more than 60 books, including novels, short story collections, poetry, plays and nonfiction. In this house of brede by rumer godden and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at.
In this house of brede by rumer godden 1969, hardcover. Books by rumer godden author of in this house of brede. Rumer godden is a superb writer and this book is her masterpiece. The influence of india is reflected in black narcissus, the river, kingfishers catch fire, breakfast with the nikolides and recently republished, the lady and the unicorn. From the 1969 viking press edition of in this house of brede by rumer godden. In this house of brede by rumer godden, 9781844088560, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. In this house of brede was the basis of a 1975 madefortelevision film. Philippa talbot is a successful london career woman turned forty when she feels the call of the religious life. This extraordinarily sensitive and insightful portrait of religious life centers on philippa talbot, a highly successful professional woman who leaves her life among the london elite to join a cloistered benedictine community. A successful civil servant leaves her life behind to become a benedictine nun.