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angus_mckeogh's review against another edition
3.0
The story itself is pretty interesting. Basically a contingent of nuns at a convent decide and/or are coerced into feigning demonic possession which results in a local parson being accused of witchcraft and getting executed. Early political theatre and religious shenanigans. Sadly someone dies as the result, but that’s not the first nor the last time that has or will happen. Experts at the time essentially out these nuns as frauds yet the man is still found guilty. I also found out why I stopped reading during my first foray through the book. Huxley has three or four chapters scattered throughout which just delve into philosophical discourse and compared to the story were unfortunately mindnumbingly boring (in my view). I suppose I found them marginally more interesting this time round. A pretty good read.
pjpjpj's review against another edition
Far too preoccupied at the moment to engage with the more thoughtful side of Devils. I’ll return to it in the future.
zrals's review
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
slow-paced
2.75
There are parts of The Devils of Loudun that are two-star, and parts that are four-star, so I'm giving it three stars to split the difference. When Huxley focuses on the historical scenario of Loudun in the early 17th century, and the people involved with the "possessions" in the town, Devils is a real historical page-turner with interesting characters in a strange circumstance. When Huxley waxes on about human nature in broad, universalizing terms, it's overly confident and boring, which is an unpleasant combination for a popular history. That said, when Huxley is on, his writing is drily funny and informative, with a striking amount of sympathy for some of the historical figures he focuses on.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Torture, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Chronic illness, Sexual violence, and Suicide attempt
fmarsden's review against another edition
4.0
I found this book really interesting, and really enjoyed it. It tells the strange and horrific story of the supposed sexual ‘possession’ of nuns in a convent in Loudon, and the maligned priest who was falsely accused of using witchcraft to possess them.
At parts it was dense and hard to read, and I needed to reread certain sections to follow Huxley - although he was detailing theological concepts and I appreciated his explanations. This book does require an active reader, but I enjoyed the challenge. However, some sections, as of 2020, certainly feel clunky. Huxley’s belief in Margaret Murray’s theory of a surviving paganistic ‘dianic’ cult seems a bit silly, but this book has its place in documenting the trajectory of our understanding of the witch-hunt.
One recurring theme which I found particularly interesting was Huxley’s discussion about people’s psychological experiences living through the witch-hunt, comparing this situation to experiences of living under twentieth-century dictatorships. He certainly conveyed a similar hopelessness, fear, and above all the fabrication of truth, which I found really interesting.
I also enjoyed his characterisation, and each main character was very fleshed out and I really understood their motives, feelings and fears. I found Sister Jean a particularly complex character, and enjoyed reading Huxley’s dissection of her psyche.
I will definitely be rereading this book at some point, and would recommend it.
At parts it was dense and hard to read, and I needed to reread certain sections to follow Huxley - although he was detailing theological concepts and I appreciated his explanations. This book does require an active reader, but I enjoyed the challenge. However, some sections, as of 2020, certainly feel clunky. Huxley’s belief in Margaret Murray’s theory of a surviving paganistic ‘dianic’ cult seems a bit silly, but this book has its place in documenting the trajectory of our understanding of the witch-hunt.
One recurring theme which I found particularly interesting was Huxley’s discussion about people’s psychological experiences living through the witch-hunt, comparing this situation to experiences of living under twentieth-century dictatorships. He certainly conveyed a similar hopelessness, fear, and above all the fabrication of truth, which I found really interesting.
I also enjoyed his characterisation, and each main character was very fleshed out and I really understood their motives, feelings and fears. I found Sister Jean a particularly complex character, and enjoyed reading Huxley’s dissection of her psyche.
I will definitely be rereading this book at some point, and would recommend it.
ste3ve_b1rd's review against another edition
4.0
It was relatively easy to immerse myself in this (a French version of Arthur Miller's "The Crucible")-- the story of Urbain Grandier and the various personalities of Loudun. Huxley also provides a psychological / religious analysis of the historical events surrounding / related to the witchcraft, possessions and exorcisms occurring in 17th century Loudun, France. I'd never heard of this book until I saw an Off Off Broadway production based on this story at the Brick Theatre, Williamsburg, Brooklyn in August 2010 (directed by Ian Hill). That production focused on Grandier, his scandalous affairs and his eventually being burned at the stake for witchcraft. Sister Jeanne's possession is also a part of "The Devils of Loudun", and her tale continues on beyond Grandier's execution. Jeanne ultimately becomes a saint and is carted around France as a kind of religiously-sanctioned side/freak show (in much the same way crowds of people came to witness and be entertained by her possession by supposed devils in Loudun).
Another major player in this work is Father Surin, who appears after Grandier's death as Sister Jeanne's "exorcisor" -- Huxley also gives the reader background on Surin, before Surin is actually introduced to the plot. The incredibly pious Surin crosses over to the dark side and eventually achieves "purification" -- his self-inflicted torture leads to his redemption. Surin becomes emotionally catatonic for 18 years as a result of his involvement in the exorcism of Sister Jeanne, but recovers and goes on to author at least two books. Surin's soul-searching is so thorough that he practically "negates his soul" before he digs himself out of the hole and moves towards the light.
My only major criticism of this book is Chapter Three; it was difficult to stay with, as it involved the deconstruction of various aspects of faith and religion -- in this chapter, Huxley gives the reader background, from both modern and 17th century perspectives, into the themes discussed in this work. The drawback being that Chapter Three distracts from the momentum and through line of the entire story. Conversely -- the epilogue -- a continuation of Chapter Three -- effectively summarizes Huxley's concepts / subtext related to this novel -- via a comparison of the psychology / attitudes of contemporary man to that of the 17th century European. French and Latin asides and notes are sprinkled liberally through out the text, which I found to be enjoyable from a linguistic perspective.
Another major player in this work is Father Surin, who appears after Grandier's death as Sister Jeanne's "exorcisor" -- Huxley also gives the reader background on Surin, before Surin is actually introduced to the plot. The incredibly pious Surin crosses over to the dark side and eventually achieves "purification" -- his self-inflicted torture leads to his redemption. Surin becomes emotionally catatonic for 18 years as a result of his involvement in the exorcism of Sister Jeanne, but recovers and goes on to author at least two books. Surin's soul-searching is so thorough that he practically "negates his soul" before he digs himself out of the hole and moves towards the light.
My only major criticism of this book is Chapter Three; it was difficult to stay with, as it involved the deconstruction of various aspects of faith and religion -- in this chapter, Huxley gives the reader background, from both modern and 17th century perspectives, into the themes discussed in this work. The drawback being that Chapter Three distracts from the momentum and through line of the entire story. Conversely -- the epilogue -- a continuation of Chapter Three -- effectively summarizes Huxley's concepts / subtext related to this novel -- via a comparison of the psychology / attitudes of contemporary man to that of the 17th century European. French and Latin asides and notes are sprinkled liberally through out the text, which I found to be enjoyable from a linguistic perspective.