A long novel about the career of a Catholic priest. He becomes a Prince of the church. It is not terribly interesting. At the time it seemed to be a poor tradeoff for the celibacy. ( )

When reading this book I had to continually consider the age it was written in. But what was so frustrating - time in the Catholic Church stands still in regard to a woman's role as a catholic and contraception. I also was stunned to read in these pages how the dwindling numbers of catholics attending church - which meant fewer dollars for the church - fell solely on the woman's right to choose and not have more than 2 or 3 kids. The church wanted those big families back to fill the church and their coffers. I never thought about that aspect. Even though this is a novel, my bet is all those men only thought about the money. Not how poor and possibly less educated women who can't afford a large family would benefit from a smaller family - both monetarily and for better health. I did read the entire book, but did much 'skimming' toward the end. ( )

A fictional, but highly accurate, view of the Church in the first half of the Twentieth Century. Absolute mastery of the English language. ( )

BG3

What was intriguing and mildly exciting when I was 23 or so becomes tiresome at 70, since a lifetime of books and experience have altered my views.
Stephen Fermoyle is an Irish Catholic priest from Boston, with all the trite family life one might expect.
He makes astonishingly rapid progress through the ranks, as the title might indicate. Brilliant and wise, touchingly human, impossibly good; Stephen is sometimes a big fat bore.
And the same can be said if this long book. It’s interesting as a period piece, but has nothing to say, and is unrealistic at best. ( )