Scan barcode
A review by fmarsden
The Devils of Loudun by Aldous Huxley
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.