In this well-written and imaginatively structured book, Carol E. Harrison brings to life a cohort of nineteenth-century French men and women who argued that a reformed Catholicism could reconcile the divisions in French culture and society that were the legacy of revolution and empire. They include, most prominently, Charles de Montalembert, Pauline Craven, Amélie and Frédéric Ozanam, Léopoldine Hugo, Maurice de Guérin, and Victorine Monniot. The men and women whose stories appear in Romantic Catholics were bound together by filial love, friendship, and in some cases marriage. Harrison draws on their diaries, letters, and published works to construct a portrait of a generation linked by a determination to live their faith in a modern world. Rejecting both the atomizing force of revolutionary liberalism and the increasing intransigence of the church hierarchy, the romantic Catholics advocated a middle way, in which a revitalized Catholic faith and liberty formed the basis for modern society. Harrison traces the history of nineteenth-century France and, in parallel, the life course of these individuals as they grow up, learn independence, and take on the responsibilities and disappointments of adulthood. Although the shared goals of the romantic Catholics were never realized in French politics and culture, Harrison's work offers a significant corrective to the traditional understanding of the opposition between religion and the secular republican tradition in France.

Discover the humor and charm of family dynamics in Guy de Maupassant’s My Uncle Sosthenes, a narrative that explores the impact of eccentricity and personal quirks within the family through the engaging character of Uncle Sosthenes. In Mademoiselle Pearl, Guy de Maupassant crafts a story centered around the intriguing character of Mademoiselle Pearl, exploring themes of beauty, society, and personal identity. The narrative delves into the complexities of Mademoiselle Pearl’s life and the societal expectations placed upon her. Maupassant’s keen observation and sensitive portrayal offer a nuanced examination of how beauty and social status intersect and influence individual experiences.