A Century of Catholic Converts

Rating:
Summary: Thoroughly enjoyed this book!
Review: What I enjoyed most about the book is reading the conversion stories of many men and women I never realized had converted to Catholicism. Chesterton I knew about. Same with Thomas Merton and Catherine de Hueck Doherty (whose amazing life Lorene Duquin chronicles in one of her earlier books, "They Called Her the Baroness"). But surprises abound in this 235 page book. I hadn't realized Sir Alec Guinness had converted to Catholicism. John Howard Griffin of "Black Like Me" fame has his conversion story told in these pages, as well as that of Israel Zolli (Chief Rabbi of Rome during the Second World War), and American jazz great Dave Brubeck. And that's not all. Not even close. If you like conversion stories you'll want to add a copy of this book to your personal library. Five stars all the way!

Rating:
Summary: A wonderful anthology
Review: When I first picked up "A Century of Catholic Converts" I was fully expecting to find a dozen or so of mini-bios of some of the more famous converts of the 20th century, men & women like Dorothy Day, Thomas Merton and Malcolm Muggridge. To my surprise and delight what I found were dozens(!) of stories of some very famous (for other reasons) and fascinating Catholic converts, many of whose names at one time graced the society or entertainment pages years ago. Before reading Duquin's book I thought I was "up" on who was (or is)Catholic, especially converts. I was not aware, until I read this book, that Dave Brubeck, Sir Alec Guinness and Clare Booth Luce, for instance, had converted to Catholicism. Many more such surprises await the reader of "A Century of Catholic Converts." Not only is the book easy reading, but the chapters are brief enough that each conversion story can be easily read in one sitting. Even if I were not Catholic I think I would have still enjoyed reading this volume.

Rating:
Summary: A wonderful anthology
Review: When I first picked up "A Century of Catholic Converts" I was fully expecting to find a dozen or so of mini-bios of some of the more famous converts of the 20th century, men & women like Dorothy Day, Thomas Merton and Malcolm Muggridge. To my surprise and delight what I found were dozens(!) of stories of some very famous (for other reasons) and fascinating Catholic converts, many of whose names at one time graced the society or entertainment pages years ago. Before reading Duquin's book I thought I was "up" on who was (or is)Catholic, especially converts. I was not aware, until I read this book, that Dave Brubeck, Sir Alec Guinness and Clare Booth Luce, for instance, had converted to Catholicism. Many more such surprises await the reader of "A Century of Catholic Converts." Not only is the book easy reading, but the chapters are brief enough that each conversion story can be easily read in one sitting. Even if I were not Catholic I think I would have still enjoyed reading this volume.