The Divine and Human Comedy of Andrew M. Greeley (Contributions to the Study of American Literature)

201 Pages·2000·11.23 MB·English

by  Allienne R. Becker

The Divine and
Human Comedy of
Andrew ML Greeley
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The Divine and
Human Comedy of
Andrew ML Greeley
Allienne R. Becker
Foreword by Andrew M. Greeley
Contributions to the Study of American Literature, Number 7
GREENWOOD PRESS
Westport, Connecticut • London
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Becker, AllienneR.
The divine and human comedy of Andrew M. Greeley /by Allienne R. Becker;
foreword by Andrew M. Greeley.
p. cm.—(Contributions to the study of American literature, ISSN 1092-6356 ; no. 7)
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 0-313-31564-7 (alk. paper)
1. Greeley, Andrew M., 1928 Criticism and interpretation. 2. Balzac, Honora de,
1799-1850—Influence. 3. Catholic Church—In literature. 4. Catholics in literature. 5.
Christian fiction, American—History and criticism. 6. Christianity and literature—United
States—History—20th century. I. Title. II. Series
PS3557.R358Z55 2000
813'.54—dc21 00-025114
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data is available.
Copyright © 2000 by Allienne R. Becker
All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be
reproduced, by any process or technique, without the
express written consent of the publisher.
Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 00-25114
ISBN: 0-313-31564-7
ISSN: 1092-6356
First published in 2000
Greenwood Press, 88 Post Road West, Westport, CT 06881
An imprint of Greenwood Publishing Group, Inc.
www.greenwood.com
Printed in the United States of America
The paper used in this book complies with the
Permanent Paper Standard issued by the National
Information Standards Organization (Z39.48-1984).
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 21
To Isidore H. Becker—my husband, my proofreader, and my best friend
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Contents
Foreword by Andrew M. Greeley ix
1. Introduction 1
2. The Quest for the Holy Grail 19
3. Rumors of Angels 35
4. The Passover Trilogy 61
5. Time between the Stars 77
6. God Game and the Angel Trilogy 133
7. White Smoke 157
8. Star Bright! and Other Short Fiction 165
9. The O'Malley Saga 171
10. L'Envoi 179
Selected Bibliography 183
Index 187
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Foreword
An author approaches literary criticism of his work with a certain unease. He
understands that (classic) criticism involves reading a book, understanding it,
and interpreting it. Will the critic really read what the author has said? Will he
understand it? How will she interpret it? If said author is then asked to write a
foreword to the critic's book, he must say whether he thinks the critic has read
his work generously and understood it sympathetically. Then he must address
the question of whether the critic's interpretation seems valid—or to be more
precise whether it does not seem invalid.
It is easy for me to say that Professor Becker has been both generous and
sympathetic. I believe that anyone who buys a book or at least reads one some
one else bought has the right to have an opinion. (Those who have opinions
without reading the work are to be dismissed without further consideration.)
Often it has seemed to me that some readers are neither generous nor sympa
thetic because they begin their reading with preconceived notions. That is their
privilege. I much prefer, however, critics who are willing to give me the benefit
of the doubt, who are willing to dialogue with my work with open minds and
even open hearts.
As to the issue of interpretation, I find surprise in Professor Becker's inter
pretations, but not invalidity. I was not aware when I was writing of many of
the themes she discusses—rarely I suspect is an author aware of such matters,
so taken up is he (or she) with the telling of the story. But I cannot deny that
the themes are there. Perhaps they were lurking in the far reaches (or, to change
the metaphor, in the dark subbasements) of my preconscious as I tried to get
down on computer screen what the characters were doing and saying.
But what about Professor Becker's Honore de Balzac's model? At first I
admit that I was astonished. I knew he was a famous French novelist, but I had
never read him. After I read Professor Becker's first essay, I began, naturally