The Burdens of Sister Margaret: Inside a Seventeenth-Century Convent; Abridged Edition (Yale Nota Bene) [Abridged] [Paperback]

Craig Harline (Author)

Book Description

Series: Yale Nota Bene | Publication Date: August 11, 2000

Based on a treasure trove of letters, this fascinating book tells the history of a seventeenth-century nun in a convent in Leuven and how her complaints-of sexual harassment, fears of demonic possession, alliances among the other sisters against her-led to her banishment from the convent on two occasions. Highly acclaimed when it was first published as a revealing look at female religious life in early modern Europe, the book is now available in an abridged paperbound version with a new preface by the author. Reviews of the clothbound edition: "A window to the past. . . . I loved, just loved, this book."-Carolyn See, Washington Post "The world Mr. Harline uncovers is a fascinating one. . . . The story of Sister Margaret gives an extra dimension of humanity to a turning point in the history of ideas."-Sonia Gernes, Wall Street Journal "Better-than-fiction social history. . . . This is a glimpse into diaries, letters, hearts, minds, hatreds, and hopes; it will enthrall."-Christian Century "Harline's graceful writing allows the women and men in this religious community to breathe, gossip, pray with tears. . . . The Burdens of Sister Margaret helps us see the familiar Reformation in a fresh way."-Kevin A. Miller, Christianity Today "Microhistory at its best."-Larissa Taylor, Renaissance Quarterly

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

The Burdens of Sister Margaret by Craig Harline is based on a trove of letters written by a 17th-century nun in a convent called Bethlehem in the city of Leuven (part of modern Belgium). Her fears of demonic possession, complaints of sexual harassment, and suspicion of conspiracies against her among the other sisters led to her being twice banished from the convent. Set against the dramatic background of the early Reformation, The Burdens of Sister Margaret describes not only the daily lives of a community of nuns, but also the impact of the major events of the early Reformation on ordinary clergy and laity. Like Harline's extraordinary A Bishop's Tale, this book describes the grand sweep of history through the perspective of particular people in a particular place. Thus, readers are given a strong general orientation to the abiding tensions of Catholic religious orders ("special friendships versus common love, dissent versus obedience, the rights of the individual versus the demands of the community, distinguishing between temporal needs and extravagance, and maintaining separation from the world while living within it"). And readers also discover a wealth of concrete and compelling detail about the wily machinations of lives lived behind convent walls. (The book's first section, "How Just About Everyone Came to Loathe Sister Margaret," will frighten, tickle, and fascinate.) --Michael Joseph Gross

Review

"A jewel in the crown of the history of mentalities." -- Marc Therry, Trajecta

"An excellent writer who has done his homework, [Harline's] book reads with the smoothness and interest of a good mystery." -- Mary Kenny, Catholic News Service

"Better-than-fiction social history....[A] glimpse into diaries, letters, hearts, minds, hatreds, and hopes; it will enthrall." -- Christian Century

"Harline has written a special book, suspenseful as a good novel." -- Karel Rombaut, NRC Handelsblad (The Netherlands)

"Microhistory at its best." -- Larissa Taylor, Renaissance Quarterly

"Read it for its archival scholarship, for its interpretation, but most of all, for its story." -- Olivia H. McIntyre, Church History

"The world Mr. Harline uncovers is a fascinating one." -- Sonia Gernes, Wall Street Journal

"To find a book like "The Burdens of Sister Margaret"...is an occasion for rejoicing." -- James Tracy, Catholic Historical Review

"[A] remarkably fresh and lively picture of daily life....[A] serious and gracefully written exploration." -- Michael Kenney, Boston Globe

"a brilliant and moving treatment of a fascinating subject." -- Sister Wendy Beckett

"a fascinating portrait of the Reformation in action...this is social history at its best." -- The Tablet

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Yale University Press; Abridged edition (August 11, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0300081219
• ISBN-13: 978-0300081213
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 4.9 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 0.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #922,706 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Better Than Fiction, February 28, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: The Burdens of Sister Margaret: Inside a Seventeenth-Century Convent; Abridged Edition (Yale Nota Bene) (Paperback)

Once you start it is hard to put this book down. The story of Sister Margaret is a tale demonic possession, sex, and hate. At the side time the secret convent life of the 17th century is exposed. The book is an easy, entertaining read that also teaches of female religious life in early modern Europe. It is a refreshing way to approach history and the subject of women and convents.