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A review by ste3ve_b1rd
The Devils of Loudun by Aldous Huxley
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.