In This House of Brede by Rumer Godden

GoodReads: In This House of Brede
Series: None
Published: 1975


Review: Written by a Catholic laywoman in the 1970s, In This House of Brede provides a fascinating glimpse into the lives of cloistered Benedictine nuns.  The protagonist, Philippa Talbot, is a 42-year-old businesswoman who, upon discovering a calling to religious life, sacrifices her successful career and bids farewell to those she loves in order to allow her life to truly begin.  When Philippa enters the abbey, readers are given the opportunity to meet the rest of the sisters, each of whom is a rich, multifaceted character with a distinct personality.  Extraordinary detail and troubling circumstances allow readers to come to know the individuals who daily interact with the now Dame Philippa Talbot.  Whether confronting a severe debt due to the late Mother’s mishandling of funds, welcoming new postulants from the isle of Japan, or surviving an outbreak of the chicken pox, the sisters strive to fulfill their supernatural vocations as brides of Christ while remaining flawed human beings of this world. 


While Dame Philippa’s past remains a mystery throughout the majority of the novel, the various circumstances she encounters forces her gifts and traits to emerge and allows her to transcend some of her shortcomings.  This transcendence of character fulfills in Dame Philippa the Biblical adage of losing oneself in order to find it.  Furthermore, the development of Dame Philippa’s understanding of selflessness is fascinating and applicable to modern society.  When the novel begins, Dame Philippa hopes to lose the prestige she had garnered in the world and instead become a simple, obscure nun.  However, she soon learns that selflessness is fulfilling one’s duty and using one’s gifts regardless of one’s personal wishes or tastes.  This understanding leads her to various leadership positions and eventually to Japan, where she will use her fluency in Japanese to found a new monastery.

Rumer Godden creatively and masterfully paints a realistic picture of monastic life that helps readers gain both an understanding and appreciation of the often misunderstood vocation.  I would recommend this book to all who wish to expand their conception of religious life, as well as to those who simply wish to enjoy a good, interesting book.